5:03 / 14.06.17
Wheeled armored vehicles. produced in the Republic of Belarus
Dear readers, let me remind you once again that the General Operator of the advertising and exhibition activities of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) - CJSC "Association of Exhibition Companies "Bizon" is preparing to publish the third issue of a series of specialized catalogs. This issue is being prepared, in particular, with the support of the Belarusian national part of the Interstate Commission for Military-Economic Cooperation of the CSTO. Given the above, I would like to see in the catalog advertising and produced in the Republic of Belarus (RB) armored vehicles. Moreover, Belarusians are an integral part of the Russian world. The people of the Republic of Belarus, including in Western Belarus, which was included in the USSR on the eve of the Great Patriotic War (WWII), by the USSR Law "On the inclusion of Western Belarus in the Union of the SSR with its reunification with the Byelorussian SSR" dated November 2, 1939, in full he felt all the “charms” of Western democracy during the Second World War and has a stable immunity, including to modern democracy, which the European Union is trying to impose on Belarusians.
Few people know, but in addition to the world-famous tragedy of Khatyn burned by the Nazis, a similar fate befell the villages of Western Belarus. So on July 7, 1943, the Nazis burned down with houses, herding people into a huge barn, 366 residents of the village of Shaulichi, Volkovysk district, Grodno region. Among these 366 burned were 120 children.
And the whole history of the wars of Europe against Russia: (18 Polish military campaigns against Russia), the Patriotic War of 1812 and the campaigns of 1813-1814. , The military intervention of the Entente in Russia (1918-1922), the perfidious attack of fascist Germany on the USSR during the Second World War indicate that the most convenient direction of attack on Moscow runs through the territory of Belarus to Smolensk and further along the roads leading to Moscow . So modern Belarus has always stood in the way of the aggressor.
The Belarusian people are a brotherly people to us. Therefore, according to the author, it will obviously be interesting for readers of our publication to find out what kind of armored vehicles are produced in Belarus.
The leadership of Belarus understands that since the times of the USSR, the defense industry of the Republic of Belarus has the specifics of a “subcontracting” position for most enterprises of the defense industry of the republic, therefore, back in 1994, an intergovernmental agreement was signed on maintaining cooperation ties with the defense industry of Russia, which is still in force. In 2010, over 400 Russian enterprises were partners of the Belarusian defense industry.
Among the manufacturers of armored vehicles of the Republic of Belarus are OJSC MZKT, which separated in 1991 from MAZ, OJSC 140 Repair Plant - enterprises with state ownership and the non-state enterprise Minotor-Service, founded in 1991.
It is known that the army of the Republic of Belarus got the wheeled armored vehicles of the Belarusian Military District of the USSR. These vehicles, in particular, include the BRDM-2 and BTR-70. But, as you know. equipment is aging both physically and morally and requires renovation.
Since 2016, the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus have purchased several BTR-82A units (Russia has delivered 32 units of these vehicles to Belarus). But, according to the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Belarus Andrei Ravkov, this is very expensive, since the cost of each vehicle is $900,000, and the modernization of one BTR-70 for the republic costs $300,000. And besides the costs associated with the renovation of the fleet of armored personnel carriers of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus, the country requires the modernization of obsolete T-72 tanks to the level of T-72B3, which is carried out by UralVagonzavod, and this also requires money.
T-72B3 with "soft armor" transferred to Belarus / Photo: topwar.ru
Therefore, the military leadership of the Republic of Belarus took care of upgrading the BTR-70 to the level of the BTR-70MB1. The work is being carried out at OAO 140 Repair Plant, located in Borisov.
What positions are embodied in the modernization of armored personnel carriers?
Modernization of the BTR-70 to the level of the BTR-70MB1 / Photo: Photo 140zavod.by
On the armored hull: the height of the troop compartment has been increased by 14 cm; side doorways were expanded and double doors were used (as on the BTR-80); the Belarusian digital radio station R-181-50TU "Drofa" was used, which provides reception and transmission of speech and digital information via an interference-free communication channel; as a power plant, an 8-cylinder turbodiesel KamAZ-7403 with a capacity of 260 hp was used, which required a change in transmission units, including the use of a new transfer case and control drives, as well as refinement of the armored hull; the use of one engine (instead of two) predetermined the possibility of installing a water jet propulsion unit from the BTR-80; in order to camouflage and cover anti-tank weapons from fire, 6 launchers for smoke grenades of the 902V "Tucha-2" system with a caliber of 81 mm were installed on the modernized vehicle.
Armament is not being upgraded. Thus, the BTR-70 is brought to the level of the BTR-80.
This refinement led to an increase in the combat weight of the vehicle by 1.5 tons; after modernization, the combat weight reaches 13 tons.
The maximum speed on the highway reached 92 km / h.
The adoption of the upgraded version of the armored personnel carrier for equipping the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus was planned to begin in January 2017.
Tactical and technical indicators of the BTR-70 MB1
| Wheel formula 8 X 8 K | 8 X 8 |
| Armament: | 14.5 mm machine gun KPVT (500 rounds); 7.62 mm PKT machine gun (2000 rounds) |
| Combat weight (with tires KI-80N), kg | 13 000 |
| Length, mm | 7700 |
| Width, mm | 2900 |
| Height, mm | 2320 |
| Booking, mm: | forehead of the body - 8-10; tower forehead - 6 |
| Engine, type (power) | turbodiesel KAMAZ 7403 (260 hp) |
| Maximum speed, km/h: | on the highway - 92; afloat - 9 |
| Range on the highway, km | 700 |
| Overcome obstacles: |
elevation angle, degrees 30; roll, degrees 25; moat width, m 2; wall, m 0.6 |
| Transported troops, pers. | 10 |
| Clearance, mm | 475 |
It should be noted that the Belarusian colleagues, in parallel with the development of the process of modernization of the existing BTR-70, also thought about creating their own armored personnel carrier in commonwealth with the Russian Federation. Such Works were carried out in the Minsk MZKT on an initiative basis in the period from 2008 to 2010. The car even received the MZKT-590100 Umka index.
The chassis was supposed to have an 8X8 wheel formula and be equipped with an electric transmission with electric motor wheels.
Project image of the BTR MZKT-590100 "Umka" from Andrey Arseniy / Image: vk.com
For the armored hull, it was supposed to use the most modern, including composite, materials. All-round visibility for the crew was to be provided by the most advanced optical and electronic surveillance equipment. It was planned to lay in the design the possibility of remote control of movement and fire. The tower and weapons were supposed to be purchased abroad, including in the countries of the far abroad.
In the middle of 2010 preliminary negotiations with potential partners took place. However, at the stage of concluding contracts for R&D and opening funding for them, work has ended. During this period of time, the BTR-82 and BTR-82A vehicles, already equipped with DBMS, were tested in Arzamas, moreover, on the BTR-82A with a 30-mm gun. The description of these machines is given in the article by Anatoly Cherkashin. And starting in 2013, the VPK, at the Arzamas Machine-Building Plant, which is part of it, began to develop a unified Boomerang wheeled platform.
The MZKT could not work on sheer enthusiasm, and a special state program to create the production of a family of armored wheeled vehicles was not approved.
Thus, the MZKT project did not take place.
As for the BRDM-2 in service, their modernization is not planned. An attempt was made in the Republic of Belarus to create an armored reconnaissance and patrol vehicle (BRDM-2T, in the Republic of Belarus it has the index RDM-2T "Stalker").
RDM-2T "Stalker" Photo: army-news.ru
The machine was developed by the Monitor-Service company in 2000, but never went into production due to the high cost for the republic's budget. A detailed consideration of this machine is not given in this article, since the machine is tracked. In this article, only wheeled vehicles are considered.
It should be noted that in May 2013 an article was published “A new armored car “Bars” was created in Belarus, which was first demonstrated during the independence parade in Turkmenistan. It was reported that the machine was developed at Tekhnosoyuzproekt LLC, Minsk.
A new armored car "Bars" was created in Belarus / Photo: army-news.ru
This is an all-wheel drive, lightly armored rapid response vehicle and is designed for counter-terrorism operations. The latest polymer-composite armor was used for the vehicle, as well as modern composite anti-radar material. There is no other information about this machine on the Internet. But let's try to find out something logically. Given that the Republic of Belarus seeks to make money by any means on the export of products, including military ones, has good friendly relations with modern Ukraine, in particular, on the basis of the joint operation of the Druzhba oil pipeline section: Mozyr-Brody for oil supplies to Belarus, supplies of diesel fuel and gasoline from Belarus for Ukraine, it can be assumed that the Belarusians tried to promote their developments to the Ukrainian arms market.
Wikipedia has information that the little-known Cherkasy Automobile Plant of the Bogdan Corporation in Ukraine tested the Bars-6 armored vehicle in December 2014.
Armored car "Bars-6" / Photo: ru.wikipedia.org
In January 2015, the corporation decided to improve the model to the Bars-8 level.
Armored car "Bars-8" / Photo: ru.wikipedia.org
Comparison of photographs of the Belarusian car and the Ukrainian "Bars-6 and 8" allows us to notice their similarities (the general layout of the car, the general outlines of the armored hull, the location of the doors, the design of the wheel arches, the location and configuration of the hood, the outlines of the front panel of the radiator grille, the location of the window in the bumper and rollers for issuing the cable of the self-pulling winch).
In 2016, the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, General V.N. Muzhenko said that the Kiev NPO Praktika was involved in the work on the Bars-6 and 8 machines, which is developing the use of these machines as a base for a 120-mm mobile mortar system and a special RCB reconnaissance vehicle.
Jeep KIA RV450 / Photo: Smolmotor.ru
Pickup Dodge Ram / Photo: Imagebank.biz
As a basis for creating cars, they used: for Bars-6, a South Korean heavy jeep KIA RV450, and for Bars-8, a more powerful chassis of a Dodge Ram pickup truck.
Tactical and technical characteristics of "Bars-6"
| Classification | armored car |
| Combat weight, t |
5,65 |
| Crew, pers. |
3 |
| Landing, pers. 4 - 6 |
4-6 |
| Manufacturer | company "Bogdan" |
| Years of development | since 2014 |
| Number of issued, pcs. |
1 |
| Dimensions, mm: |
body length - 5500; body width - 2120; height - 2280; base - 3050 |
| Booking |
|
| armor type | steel bulletproof |
| Mobility | |
| engine's type | Hyundai D4DA |
| Manufacturer | Hyundai |
| Brand | Hyundai D4DA |
| Type |
diesel |
| Volume, cu. cm | 3 900 |
| Maximum power, l. With. | 130 |
| Recommended fuel | diesel |
| Highway speed, km/h | up to 100 |
| Range on the highway, km | 500 |
| Wheel formula |
4×4 |
| Climbability, deg. | ~ 30 |
| Crossable ford, m | 0,76 |
The performance characteristics of "Bars-8"
| Armored car classification | armored car |
| Combat weight, t |
8 |
| Crew, pers. |
2 |
| Landing, pers. |
8 |
| Manufacturer | company "Bogdan" |
| Years of development |
2015 |
| Number of issued, pcs. |
1 |
| Dimensions, mm: |
body length - 6000; body width - 2200; height - 2400; base - 3670; clearance - 280 |
| Booking |
|
| armor type |
steel |
| Mobility | |
| engine's type | diesel |
| Manufacturer | Cummins |
| Volume, cu. cm | 6 700 |
| Maximum power, hp | 385 |
| Maximum torque, Nm, at 1600 rpm |
1173 |
| Recommended fuel |
diesel |
| Highway speed, km/h | up to 110 |
| Wheel formula | 4×4 |
| suspension type |
independent |
| Climbability, deg. |
60 |
| Crossable ford, m | 0,76 |
Further, it is probably necessary to tell in a few words about the Tigr car kits assembled at the MZKT by the “screwdriver assembly” method, supplied by the Russian military-industrial complex. The machines assembled from Russian components received the designation "Fox".
The assembly of machines at the MZKT was organized in 2014.
In the Russian Federation, the Tiger was put into production at the end of 2003 under the code STS GAZ-2330 and was intended to equip special forces of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation. For it, a torsion bar suspension with hydraulic shock absorbers and bridges similar to the BTR-70 were used. As a power plant, Cummins B-205 or YaMZ-5347-10 turbocharged diesel engines, a mechanical 5-speed gearbox, a hydraulic clutch, a 2-speed RK with an electro-pneumatic drive and an inter-axle differential lock, an independent torsion bar suspension (double-lever) were used. The wheels are equipped with special tires with the STsPSh system (centralized tire inflation system), designed to overcome difficult places.
One of the first shows of the car "Fox" took place at the 7th International Exhibition of Arms and Military Equipment MILEX 2014 in Minsk. The Belarusian anti-tank complex "Shershen" is installed on the armored car / Photo: auto.tut.by
The armored hull is three-door, the protection is made according to the third class and the hull is designed to transport 6-9 military personnel.
For the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, they created and in March 2007 adopted the STS GAZ-233014 vehicle. These vehicles took part in the Crimean operation of 2014. () Already at the Interpolitech-2010 exhibition, the military-industrial complex presented the upgraded vehicle AMN-23114 (VPK-23314) Tiger-M. The main differences are: only the domestic YaMZ-5347-10 diesel engine is used, the axles are from the BTR-82 (82A); on the armored hull on the roof, the double-leaf hatch was replaced with one square-shaped hatch, the doors were equipped with crossbar locks and improved sealing, high-performance FVU was used, air conditioning; improved brake efficiency; applied forced differential lock. Currently, "Tiger-M" is supplied to the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and the National Guard.
This is probably why the Belarusian car was called "Lis-PM" (modernized with a machine gun mount). And just "Fox" - a command car. Therefore, we can assume that the performance characteristics of the Lis-PM machine can be taken similar to the performance characteristics of GAZ (VPK) -233014.
Tactical and technical characteristics of the armored car "Lis-PM"
| Classification | armored off-road vehicle |
| Combat weight, t | 5.3 (GAZ-233014) |
| layout diagram | front-engine, all-wheel drive |
| Crew, pers. |
2 |
| Landing, people |
9 |
| Manufacturer |
MZKT |
| Years of production | 2014 - present |
| Years of operation | 2014 - present |
| Dimensions, mm: | body length - 4610; body width - 2200; height - 2000: base - 3000; track - 1840 (with tire dimensions - 335/80 R20); clearance - 400 |
| Booking | |
| armor type |
3rd class of ballistic protection according to GOST R 50963-96 |
| Armament: | machine guns 12.7 mm NSV - (Belarus); AGS-17; ATGM "Shershen" - (Belarus) |
| Mobility | |
| engine's type | YaMZ-5347-10 |
| Manufacturer |
Autodiesel |
| Volume, cu. cm | 4 430 |
| Maximum power, kW | 158 |
| Maximum torque, N m (at a speed of 1,000 min-1) | 470 |
| Number of cylinders | 4 |
| Cylinder diameter, mm | 105 |
| Piston stroke, mm |
128 |
| Supply system |
direct injection |
| Cooling |
liquid |
| Block material | cast iron |
| Cycle (number of cycles) |
4 |
| The order of operation of the cylinders |
1–3–4–2 |
| Recommended fuel |
multi-fuel |
| Highway speed, km/h | 125-140 |
| Wheel formula |
4×4 |
| Climbability, hail | 45 |
| Crossable ford, m | 1,2 |
Further, it seems necessary to talk about the promising development carried out at the MZKT, the new armored car Volot V1 (MZKT-490100). On November 1, 2016, an editorial appeared in the all-Russian weekly newspaper VPK "Belarusian armored car is being tested", which reports that the special operations forces (SOF) of the Republic of Belarus began testing the first Volot V1 armored car of the first RB vehicle of the MRAP class.
According to the developers, the vehicle should serve as the basis for the proposed family of vehicles: an armored personnel carrier, a tactical reconnaissance, command and control vehicle, a military police vehicle, a logistics and logistics support vehicle, and a medical assistance vehicle; for installation of special equipment.
Volot V1 is the first RB vehicle of the MRAP class / Photo: vpk-news.ru
The armored car is intended primarily for export deliveries, but it is expected that it will be adopted by the law enforcement agencies of the Republic of Belarus.
The performance characteristics of Volot V1
| Manufacturer | MZKT |
| Purpose | BA 4th security class MRAP |
| Wheel formula | 4 X 4 |
| Layout | front engine, frame chassis, all-wheel drive transmission |
| armored corps | steel armor, 5-door, with a top hatch, welded |
| Curb weight in the basic version, kg | from 8000 to 11000 (data from various sources) |
| Power point |
diesel YaMZ-53452; working volume - 4,4 l,; power-215 hp |
| Transmission | hydromechanical SAAZ-4334 (CJSC Smolensk auto-aggregate plant of the Russian Federation) |
| Bridges |
manufactured by MZKT (similar to MZKT-500200, with spaced main gear and independent 2-link wheel suspension and hydraulic shock absorbers, wheels are equipped with STsPSh) |
| Maximum speed, km/h | approximately up to 120 |
| Passenger capacity |
10 (2+8) |
| Optional equipment: | HLF; air conditioning, heating installation; combat information and control system (CICS); powder gases suction system; self-pulling winch with front cable release |
| Armament |
options are not disclosed |
The design team, headed by the chief designer of the plant, Olga Petrova, took up the development of the project and the creation of a prototype. After 4 months, the car was created, it received the name - mobile armored vehicle (MBTS).
When creating the machine, in order to reduce the development time and simplify production, they used existing units from samples mastered in production.
MBTS Cayman / Photo: defense-blog.com
The armored hull is borrowed from the BRDM-2. It changed side sheets. The angles of inclination were changed to give the machine an anti-mine U-shape, two side openings were made and well-sealed side doors were mounted that open forward. Under the side doors there are wide corrugated steps. For access to the roof, a set of handrails and steps were arranged. The crew enters the control compartment not only through the upper hatches in the roof, but also through the side doors and through the troop compartment.
Transmission and suspension units, including axles, were used from the BTR-60. The stern was subjected to some modifications, which made it possible to use a different engine (D-245).
Instead of two windshields with armored shields, one bulletproof one was used. The visibility for the driver and commander was improved by using two additional bulletproof glasses on the cheekbones of the frontal part of the hull. Lighting devices from the upper deck of the control compartment were transferred to the side cheekbones, covering the devices with complex brackets and gratings.
Behind the side doors, closer to the stern, a basket was installed on each side for storing various property.
There is a small visor above the windshield. On which two searchlights are installed. () The layout of the compartments inside the armored hull is left the same.
As a power plant, a D-245 diesel engine with a power of up to 130 hp was used, equipped with an electronic fuel supply control system. A 5-speed manual was used as a gearbox.
Combat weight does not exceed 6 tons.
Since the car is amphibious, a new navigable propulsion device was developed for it. Two channels were equipped on the sides of the engine compartment, covered with protective nets at the water intake. The channels house two propellers connected to the power take-off.
During the alteration, the car was deprived of the tower. On the roof there was a shoulder strap for mounting various types of combat modules. The first sample was equipped with a double-leaf round hatch covering the shooter from side fire, and a turret for mounting a machine gun or automatic grenade launcher. Additional weapons are PU smoke grenades, three on each side of the roof of the fighting compartment.
It is expected that the low cost of the machine, combined with sufficiently high performance, will not only provide the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus, but also enter the international arms market with dignity.
Tactical and technical characteristics of MBTS "Caiman"
| Classification | armored reconnaissance vehicle |
| Combat weight, t |
7 |
| Crew, pers. |
6 |
| Manufacturer | 140th repair plant |
| Years of development | 2015 |
| Armament | PKTM machine guns |
| engine's type | D-245 |
| Manufacturer |
Minsk Motor Plant |
| Type |
Diesel |
| Volume, cu. cm |
4,75 |
| Maximum power, kW (hp) |
90 (122) |
| Maximum torque, N m, at 1400 rpm | 420 |
| Number of cylinders | 4 |
| Cylinder diameter, mm | 110 |
| Piston stroke, mm | 125 |
| Compression ratio |
17,1 |
| Supply system |
direct injection |
| Cooling | liquid |
| Cycle (number of cycles) | 4 |
| The order of operation of the cylinders: |
1 – 3 – 4 – 2 |
| Speed, km/h: |
along highway -110; afloat (expected) - 8-9 |
| Range on the highway, km | 1000 |
| Wheel formula | 4×4 |
| suspension type |
independent torsion bar |
In conclusion, it should be noted:
- The Republic of Belarus has sufficient engineering and design experience to create its own and upgrade obsolete lightly armored wheeled vehicles.
- In addition to their own in the republic, they assemble Russian armored vehicles in export versions.
- Samples such as the BTR-70 MB1, Volot V1, "Caiman" can adequately represent the products of the defense industry of the Republic of Belarus and can be recommended for demonstration in the third edition of the catalog.
Belarus does not often please the public with new weapons and military equipment, so each appearance of a new model causes a corresponding reaction. In the middle of May, journalists from the BelaPAN agency managed to take several photos of a new armored car built at one of the Belarusian enterprises. A car without identification marks and license plates was moving along one of the highways, accompanied by a car with special signals. This small motorcade was moving along the highway at a speed of about 100 kilometers per hour in the direction from Minsk. The BelaPAN correspondent managed to take only a few good shots of the new armored car before it left and turned onto another road.
According to the information company BelaPAN, which published photographic materials, the mysterious armored car without identification marks is a new development of the Belarusian defense industry. This is the Bars armored car, which is being tested and is being prepared for adoption. Other details about the car are not yet available and therefore it is possible to form an opinion about it only from a few photographs. Nevertheless, the available materials allow us to draw certain conclusions and roughly assess the potential of such an armored car.
Outwardly, the Bars car resembles some equipment of a similar purpose, created in third countries. This can be explained by the similarity of the requirements for the machine and a unified approach to their implementation. So, a characteristic feature of all cars like Bars can be considered a large ground clearance, with the help of which the cross-country ability is increased to some extent. Like other armored vehicles of this class, the new Belarusian development has an all-wheel drive chassis, which is clearly visible in some photographs. The type of chassis, engine and transmission used has not yet been specified. A variety of versions are being put forward: from using some kind of in-house development to purchasing a suitable foreign chassis.
The combat weight of the Bars vehicle, judging by its dimensions, ranges from five to seven or eight tons. In this case, the machine must be equipped with an engine with a capacity of at least 200 horsepower. For comparison, the Italian armored car Iveco LMV, having a weight of 6.5 tons, with the help of a 185-horsepower engine can accelerate on the highway to 120-130 km / h. The Belarusian "Bars" was allegedly traveling along the track at a speed of about 100 km / h, from which we can draw the appropriate conclusions about the engine and driving performance in general.
Protection characteristics were also not announced. The available photos show only that the Bars car has an armored hull assembled from rectilinear panels and laminated glass. It remains only to speculate about the level of protection of the materials used. Most likely, the most durable armor parts can withstand standard non-armor-piercing bullets from a 7.62x54R rifle cartridge. Armor-piercing ammunition of this caliber, as well as large-caliber bullets, armor probably will not stop. Another mystery of the new armored car is mine protection. At present, in view of the nature of the wars of recent years, such measures are of particular importance. Perhaps the "Bars" is equipped with a special armored V-shaped bottom. However, the available photographs do not contain such details that directly indicate the presence or absence of such a protection system. Therefore, the issue of mine protection also remains open.
Bars' own armament, obviously, can consist of a machine gun or an automatic grenade launcher. Necessary is installed on an open turret above the hatch in the roof. There were no weapons on the armored car driving along the highway, but a machine with a box for cartridges was installed on the hatch. In order to fire without leaving the reserved volume, the Barca crew can use the loopholes. Such units are installed on all windows of the car except for the windshield and front side windows. In total, the armored car has eight loopholes that close from the inside: three on the sides and two in the rear.
The location of armored glass and devices for firing personal weapons, as well as the back door, do not allow us to draw accurate conclusions about the layout of the troop compartment. Judging by the loopholes, the seats of the soldiers on the "Bars" are located in the same way as on the Soviet and Russian armored personnel carriers and the soldiers sit facing the sides of the vehicle. However, the design of the tailgate indicates the placement of seats at the sides. Landing on the two front seats is made through the front side doors, on the seats of the troop compartment - through two side and one rear door. The dimensions of the armored car allow us to talk about the transportation of up to seven or nine soldiers, not counting the driver.
Finally, it is worth noting the presence of large and, probably, quite comfortable steps under the doors, two winches in the front and rear parts of the car, as well as a “kenguryatnik” in front of the radiator grill, equipped with a mesh.
It is noteworthy that this is not the first appearance of Bars in public. Previous photographs with this armored car appeared back in 2011, when he happened to participate in a parade in Turkmenistan. The armored car sold to the Central Asian country differed from the recently seen Belarusian prototype in only a few external details. Perhaps the actual differences are greater, but the appearance of both cars differs slightly. The most noticeable difference between the Turkmen armored car was the presence of weapons. An NSV-12.7 "Cliff" machine gun was mounted on an open turret. In addition, the turret was equipped with a shield consisting of two halves. After that parade, there was no information about the Turkmen Bars.
Once again, "Bars" appeared on the pages of the Belarusian magazine "Spetsnaz" (December issue for 2012). There, a car similar to the one seen in mid-May was used as an example of the equipment of group "A" of the KGB of Belarus. The armored car, against which the special forces soldiers were photographed, had the same kenguryatnik grate as the car from the track, and was also equipped with covers of loopholes of a characteristic beige color. Weapons and turrets were missing.
Thus, even with the existing lack of information, we can confidently speak about the existence of at least two samples of the Bars armored car and about the start of export deliveries. The development of such a project is not surprising. A few years ago, Belarus already demonstrated its Ocelot armored car of a similar purpose. In addition, on the basis of this armored car, a self-propelled anti-tank missile system "Karakal" was created, which can be armed with missiles of the required type. In light of this, the appearance of a new Bars armored car looks logical and expected. Belarus sees the need for light armored vehicles and is trying to close this niche on its own or with the help of international cooperation.
According to the websites:
http://belapan.com/
http://vestnik-rm.ru/
http://shushpanzer-ru.livejournal.com/
http://rg.ru/
Cherkasy Automobile Plant reoriented from the production of civilian vehicles to military vehicles. Instead of the well-known Bogdan, a new Bars armored car was put on the conveyor. It was created on the basis of an imported analogue (which one is not specified) using components that were previously used on equipment manufactured at this plant. The car is equipped with a modern turbodiesel with a capacity of 160 liters. With. The fuel consumption of the car is 15 liters per 100 km, which allows you to drive about 600 kilometers at one gas station. The maximum speed over rough terrain is 100 km / h.
The welded body of the armored car is made of armor plates located at an angle, which provides all-round protection against bullets of 5.45 and 7.62 mm cartridges. On the roof of the fighting compartment provides for the installation of various combat modules.
The armored vehicle is designed to transport personnel in the amount of 6-8 people, transport goods in combat conditions, perform tactical tasks, guard checkpoints, conduct combat in urban areas and as an ambulance transport.
The design feature of the car allows for a comfortable boarding and disembarking of the crew through wide side and rear doors. There is also an additional sunroof.
Already in the "base" the car has air conditioning, a Webasto heater, a reversing and circular view camera, a GPS navigator. Optionally, the armored car can be equipped with thermal imagers, night vision devices, radio protection, cyclone filters, etc. The preliminary cost of the facility is 1 million hryvnia, or approximately 3.6 million rubles.
Meanwhile, in August of this year, there was information that KAMAZ was also creating a universal armored vehicle to participate in hostilities. This is a car with removable modules, created by order of the Airborne Forces. As Colonel-General Vladimir Shamanov said, the future belongs to cars of the wheeled segment, since tracked vehicles are not very maneuverable and have a small power reserve. Thanks to various modules (control module, axle, power plant), you can create cars of various security and with different wheel formulas.
When the war began in the Donbass, the first new armored vehicles that went to defend Ukraine were . It was a curiosity for the Ukrainian army - a new SUV, and even armored at the factory.
How did
Despite the fact that both the Cougar and Bars are presented as domestic armored vehicles, it is a stretch to call them such. Both cars are built on the chassis of imported SUVs. The KrAZ is based on the Toyota Land Cruiser 79. The Bars is made on the basis of the Ram pickup, which was previously produced by the American company Dodge. On the copy of "Bars", which was shown at the exhibition "Arms and Security 2015", even the Dodge logo was preserved on the steering wheel.
The Cougar was developed by the Streit Group, a company with manufacturing facilities in Canada and the United Arab Emirates. Actually, KrAZ had to do practically nothing. The plant simply mastered the assembly of the Cougar at its own facilities from imported components and “sticked” its logo on the hood of the car.
Who was involved in the development of "Bars" is unknown. That is, the Bogdan corporation assures that this is its own development. But after all, the "Bogdanovites" never had specialists in armored vehicles. Therefore, in any case, the company had to attract someone from the outside.
Alternatively, "Bogdan" could use the services of "armor" experts from another enterprise close to Poroshenko - "Lenin's Forge". The plant has experience in the production of armored ships - the forge built several armored river boats "Gyurza" for Uzbekistan. By the way, the enterprise is also developing its own armored car, which was called the Triton.
Dynamics
In terms of driving performance, Bars and Cougar are very similar. Both cars accelerate to 105-110 km per hour. True, the power reserve of KrAZ is more than 100 km. However, the Cougar loses significantly in terms of engine performance. According to "Bogdan", the engine of his "Bars" is about 100 "horses" more powerful. The torque is completely incomparable - the Bars has three times more newton meters than the Cougar.
KrAZ Cougar It is important to note: both cars are not actually suitable for overcoming water obstacles. In the characteristics of "Bars" it is stated that the armored car can ford water bodies with a depth of no more than half a meter - almost any SUV is capable of such feats.
About the depths that the Cougar can overcome, its developers do not say anything at all. And this is very strange for a modern armored car. After all, even "Dozor-B" is able to ford water bodies up to 1 meter deep. And the Georgian "Didgori" can swim at all. You can find a comparison of these two armored cars in our article.
Specifications
| KrAZ Cougar | Bars-8 | |
| Motor | ||
| 240 | Power, hp | 350 |
| 300 | Torque, Nm | 910 |
| Running characteristics | ||
| 105 | Max speed, km/h | 110 |
| 900 | Power reserve, km | 800 |
| 300 | Clearance, mm | 287 |
| n.a. | Ford, mm | 500 |
| capacity | ||
| 2 | Crew, people | 2 |
| 6 | Landing, people | 6 |
In May 2013, information appeared in the Belarusian media about the creation in Belarus at Tekhnosoyuzproekt LLC, the city of Minsk, of a new one called Bars. Perhaps this information would have appeared even later, but the car "lit up" during the independence parade in Turkmenistan.
The lightly armored vehicle "Bars" with a 4x4 wheel arrangement is intended for use by special units in solving the problems of combating illegal armed formations and sabotage groups on rough terrain and in urban areas.
The design of the Bars armored car uses an all-wheel drive Italian SCAM cross-country chassis. The chassis of the car has, as stated, a reliable dependent suspension and a ground clearance of 340 mm. A turbocharged IVECO 8140.43N diesel engine with a power of 146 hp is used as a power unit, which, together with a mechanical transmission, allows the car to accelerate on the highway up to 120 km / h.
The transmission, which includes a 6-speed manual gearbox, as well as a gearbox with a divider and a multiplier, provides a total of 24 forward gears. The electronic system makes it possible to lock when the car is moving by simply pressing a button.
Thanks to this, the Bars armored car confidently overcomes slopes and sections of roads with side slopes of up to 30 degrees, fords up to 0.7 meters deep. Two fuel tanks with a total capacity of 140 liters provide the car with a range of up to 700 kilometers. The car is equipped with means of closed digital communications and a satellite navigation system.
The armored body of the armored car Bars.
The armored hull of the vehicle with a hood layout was created by Belarusian engineers from NPOOO OKB TSP. It is made of composite materials based on polymer armor. Armored body five-door. Doors on the sides open in different directions. Front - forward, rear - back. The aft door is single leaf, opens to the left.
In the windows of the aft doors, the windows of the port and starboard sides (two on each side behind the rear doors) and two windows on each side of the aft door, lockable loopholes are equipped for firing from individual weapons. Inside the armored hull, driver's seats and 7 places for personnel accommodation are equipped.
For the convenience of its landing and disembarkation, steps are installed under the side doors. The armored body of the Bars vehicle provides class 3 protection in accordance with GOST R 50963-96.
On the roof of the armored hull of the armored car, a hatch with an armored cover is equipped. A shoulder strap is installed on the hatch, on which a rotating turret with a large-caliber 12.7-mm machine gun of the NSVT-12.7 Utes type is installed. At the request of the customer, a remotely controlled combat module with various weapons can be installed on the roof of the armored hull. The total weight of the armored car is 5.5 tons.
Mobile complex based on the Bars armored car.
On the basis of the Bars armored car, a mobile complex was developed, which includes from 4 to 6 Bars-BM combat vehicles and a control center for the Bars-PU unit. If necessary, the Bars-MO support vehicle can also be turned on.
The Bars-BM combat vehicle is the main element of the complex. The car accommodates the commander of the combat group with a driver and six special forces soldiers. A rotary turret with light small arms is installed on the roof of the car body. Or a combat module with remote control.
To perform special tasks, non-lethal weapons can be used:
— Infrasound system.
— Laser system of temporary blinding.
— Grenade launchers shooting special equipment.
In the control area of the combat vehicle are installed:
— Means of digital video, radio communication.
- Integrated navigation system (KNS-2).
All equipment can be controlled from the automated workplace of the commander-operator. In the troop compartment of the combat vehicle, places are equipped to accommodate six special forces soldiers with individual weapons and ammunition. Wide doors and footboards allow you to quickly get into and out of the car, as well as fire through loopholes in the sides and stern.
The vehicle control point "Bars-PU" is a means of control of the special forces at the stage of preparation and during the performance of combat missions. The complex of technical means is located in two compartments. The control compartment is equipped with workplaces for the unit commander, operator, operator technician and driver.
In the technical compartment are:
— Means of radio communication.
— Data transmission equipment.
— Electronic-optical video surveillance system.
— Means of conducting electronic intelligence.
- Means of electronic suppression.
- Acoustic sniper detection system.
— Remote controlled robotic platform.
— Power supply system.
The first batch of Bars armored vehicles was delivered to Turkmenistan and was first presented to the public at a parade dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the independence of the republic. Since then, the Bars armored car has been a regular participant in parades in Ashgabat. In March 2016, Bars armored vehicles took part in the Watan anti-terrorist exercise. The number of delivered cars is not exactly known, but there is information about the number of 17 units.
Since 2012, the armored car "Bars" has been used by the "A" group of the KGB of the Republic of Belarus. In July 2014, the Bars armored car was demonstrated at the 7th International Exhibition of Arms and Military Equipment MILEX-2014 in Minsk.
In 2014, the Cherkasy Automobile Plant of the Bogdan Corporation in Ukraine tested the Bars-6 armored vehicle. Then the corporation created a new modification "Bars-8". With a noticeable similarity between the Belarusian and Ukrainian cars, they are still different. Ukrainian engineers took the chassis of the South Korean heavy jeep KIA RV450 as the basis for the design of the Bars-6 car, and used the more powerful chassis of the Dodge Ram pickup truck in the design of the Bars-8.
Based on the materials of the journal "Review of the Army and Navy".
