High-speed armored car
First of all, in the new car from Arzamas, the dynamic capabilities are surprising: the maximum speed, according to the manufacturer's assurances, reaches 150 km / h! For a 4, 7-ton armored car, this is a very serious parameter, requiring, firstly, a remarkable engine, and, secondly, powerful brakes. The vehicle, the official name of which is “Strela” light armored vehicle, is in many ways an armored car, unique for our army. If the Arrow is adopted, it will be the first of its kind. This is what the general director of the military-industrial complex Alexander Krasovitsky says:
“On an initiative basis, in the shortest possible time, the designers of the Military Industrial Company LLC developed and proposed a concept for the creation of light vehicles, within the framework of which an experimental prototype of an armored vehicle from the VPK-Strela family was developed and manufactured. Today, there are simply no such armored vehicles in service with our army”.
The idea to build a light armored car looks like a logical enough marketing step. The military-industrial company at the Arzamas machine-building plant is already producing a bunch of modifications of the 8-ton "Tiger", an even heavier "Athlete" (about 9 tons) is being actively tested, and last year an experienced 15-ton "VPK-Ural" was assembled. In addition, the troops operate more than 200 armored vehicles "Lynx", or IVECO LMV, developed in the camp of a potential enemy. There is also a restyled version of the "Tiger", a distinctive feature of which are six small eyes-headlights. The market positions of heavy and medium tactical vehicles are not just occupied, there is also strong competition. Therefore, the development of a new niche of light airborne armored vehicles by the company looks quite logical. The Arrow's mass-dimensional parameters allow it to be transported on the external sling of the Mi-8 series helicopters. This, by the way, is unambiguously hinted at by the four lugs sticking out along the perimeter of the roof.
At the moment, not much is known about the car. Most of the information will be disclosed at the Army 2020 forum in August. There, according to the publication "Autoreview", other modifications of "Strela" will be presented: a floating and a cargo-passenger version. The salon of the traditional civil layout can accommodate, depending on the design, from 5 to 8 people. Unlike the machines of the Tiger series, the Arzamas Arrow can withstand a blast of at least 2 kilograms of TNT. "Tiger", as you know, is capable of "digesting" only about 600 grams of such explosives without critical injuries to the crew. In this regard, it is interesting to compare the Strela with another new product from the military-industrial complex - the 9-ton Atlet armored car. According to the manufacturer, this machine can also withstand an explosion of about 2 kg of TNT. Let us remind that the weight of "Strela" with the same resistance to explosion is two times less. What is the secret of such firmness of the Arzamas 4, 7-ton new item? The new car draws on the traditional Kevlar anti-splinter lining, as well as the instrument panel, unified with the civilian "Gazelle Next". Of course, this will increase the level of comfort for the crew, but it will create a number of problems. First of all, this is a combat vehicle: shrapnel (bullet ricochet) can get inside, and civilian plastic is scattered from impacts into many sharp fragments. In addition, plastic is flammable. This, by the way, is not news for the designers from Arzamas: you will not find such plastic excesses in the "Athlete" salon. The second problem is the lack of fasteners for special equipment on the dashboard. It is not clear how to mount communication and navigation devices on the laconic "Gazelle" panel. In steel cladding, you can at least use a drill or self-tapping screws.
On the presented prototype, the passenger compartment is equipped with ordinary passenger seats. If the manufacturer declares for such a light car resistance to a 2-kilogram explosion, then there must be anti-traumatic chairs in the cabin. They know how to make them in Arzamas, and there is a hope that they will appear on Strela. A feature of these chairs is a ceiling mount with a shock absorber and footrests that prevent soldiers from contacting the floor of the car. In the event of a car explosion, this reduces the likelihood of injury to the ankle and spine. And, of course, the biggest blunder in the Strela's cabin was the usual three-point seat belts, which are useless in an explosion. Here, four-point belts like sports belts are required. However, it is worth repeating that these are most likely the features of a particular prototype. Perhaps this "Arrow" is prepared for life tests and for convenience is equipped with a civilian cabin. Moreover, the rest of the designers perfectly prepared the armored car for the explosion: the shape of the bottom is specific V-shaped.
Armor and motor
In the images of "Strela", one-piece armored windshield attracts attention. On the rest of the military-industrial complex, the stack is strictly divided, and here is a luxurious panoramic armored block. Changing it entirely in case of defeat is impractical, and even very difficult: such a piece of glass weighs more than one hundred kilograms. The novelty is armored according to the domestic level 2, which implies protection against bullets with a heat-strengthened core of a cartridge of caliber 5, 45 × 39 mm from AK-74, bullets with a heat-strengthened core of a cartridge of caliber 7, 62 × 39 mm from AKM and bullets with a non-heat-strengthened core of a cartridge of caliber 7, 62 × 54 mm from SVD. The armor of the "Strela" is domestic, but the rest of the content is not so simple. The manufacturer does not disclose detailed data on the motor, but so far this is an imported unit, which they promise to localize next year. Another story with the localization of foreign technology and the lack of own developments in this sector. One can only assume that a diesel engine with a capacity of at least 200 l / s will be required to ensure the required power-to-weight ratio.
The outer contours of the "Arrow" body turned out to be okay. The stylistic solutions of the armored hull have something in common with the older brother of the "VPK-Ural", especially the characteristic squint of the head lighting equipment. Obviously, this design architecture will become typical of the new armored vehicles from Arzamas. The frame of the armored car is its own and is not borrowed from other military-industrial complex equipment. A bit of technical specifics: the front suspension is independent spring, rear leaf spring, and the gearbox is mechanical. Noteworthy are the front and rear armored doors unified with the "Athlete" and "VPK-Ural". Obviously, the creators of Strela are counting very much on the state order and are cutting production costs.
Aleksandr Krasovitsky, general director of VPK, tells about the area of use of Strela in the army:
"The vehicle can be used as a command vehicle, a vehicle and an operational service vehicle in special units of executive authorities or as a base for creating a family of vehicles, as well as mounting weapons and special equipment."
It should be noted that the Strela concept, strictly speaking, is not an absolute novelty for the domestic car industry. Several years ago, the armored car "Scorpion" tried to get into the army, the curb weight of which was slightly lower - about 4300 kg. The vehicle carried the LSHA index (light assault vehicle) and was developed by ZAO Corporation Zashchita. For some time it was tested in Bronnitsy, there was even information about its acceptance into service, but the troops never saw it. The reason for the failure, obviously, was in an outdated design based on the UAZ, and this negatively affected the reliability of the overloaded vehicle. If on the civilian "Patriot" many of the components are worn out, what can we say about an armored vehicle! It remains to be hoped that fate will be more favorable to "Arrow" from Arzamas.
