Any army needs not only military equipment, but also vehicles of different classes. Not the last place in the fleet of the armed forces is occupied by trucks and tractors with high characteristics of carrying capacity and cross-country ability. Currently, many companies from different countries offer such equipment to potential customers. One of the newest examples of this kind is the Volat MZKT-600203 tactical chassis from the Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant.
In the recent past, the MZKT enterprise took into account the needs of potential operators of automotive equipment and proposed new samples. To simplify the work of motorists and at the same time increase its efficiency, the plant has created a new generation of vehicles. Within the framework of the "6001" family, several unified chassis with a wheel arrangement from 4x4 to 8x8 were created at once, suitable for the transport of goods or people, or for the installation of special equipment. To date, the MZKT-6001 line includes five samples of automotive equipment.
One of the newest members of the family at the moment is the so-called. tactical chassis MZKT-600203. It is built on proven ideas and solutions, but differs in some way from its predecessors. The main difference of this machine is its increased carrying capacity. The cargo area of the chassis can accommodate up to 17 tons of payload, which is still a record for the existing family.
The MZKT-600203 multipurpose tactical chassis is a four-axle vehicle with a cabover cab, which has a large aft platform for mounting one or another special equipment. Despite its large size and relatively large weight, the aircraft meets the requirements of military transport aviation. It can be transported by aircraft with a carrying capacity not lower than that of the An-22.
The promising Belarusian chassis is based on a welded spar frame with transverse load-bearing elements, standard for MZKT. In front of it, at the level of the power set, the engine is placed, behind which there are transmission units. Almost all other volumes formed by the frame are also given for the installation of other all-wheel drive parts. Above the engine, a crew cabin is installed, behind which a large casing is provided with some power plant devices. The central and aft parts of the frame serve as the basis for the installation of a body or other special equipment.
One of the main features of the latest projects of the 6001 family is the introduction of American Caterpillar engines. In the case of the MZKT-600203 chassis, a six-cylinder in-line C13 diesel engine with a power of 520 hp is used. The engine is connected to the fuel system, which includes two tanks with a volume of 300 liters. The transmission is based on the Allison 4500SP automatic transmission with six forward and one reverse speeds. From it, the torque goes to two transfer cases, which drive all four axles.
The MZKT-600203 car is equipped with four drive axles, similar to those used in other projects of the family. The unified bridge has a split design. It is equipped with a central gearbox that receives power from the transfer case and transmits it to the semi-axle propeller shafts. There are also center and cross-axle differentials with an automatic locking function.
Axle half-shafts are equipped with independent suspension with spring damping. The chassis receives dual-circuit pneumatic brakes. Anti-lock braking system used. To increase maneuverability, the steering system controls the wheels of the two front axles. Due to heavy loads, the steering system is equipped with a hydraulic booster.
The machine is equipped with 16.00 / R20 tubeless tires with a tread designed for increased cross-country ability. The sidewalls of the tires are reinforced with RunFlat technology, which allows them to take on a large load. This allows the chassis to continue driving even with flat tires. In this case, the wheels are connected with a centralized inflation system that allows you to change the tire pressure in accordance with current conditions.
In the front of the chassis there is a cabover cab, similar to those used in other projects of the MZKT-6001 line. The cabin is built on the basis of a frame, on top of which sheathing panels are mounted. The cab has a developed frontal and side glazing, which provides a good view of the road. Access to the cockpit is provided by a pair of side doors. The machine is very high, and therefore side ladders and steps are provided under the cab. The roof has a hinged hatch.
Two seats are installed inside the cab of the car. The left one is intended for the driver, in front of him there is a full-fledged control post with all the necessary equipment. For the convenience of the crew, the cabin receives a climate control unit capable of maintaining comfortable conditions in the entire range of permissible outboard temperatures.
Like some other projects of special chassis, MZKT-600203 provides for the possibility of protecting the cab. On top of the standard light skin, at the request of the customer, armored panels can be mounted to provide protection against small arms bullets. It is also possible to replace conventional glasses with armored ones.
The tactical chassis MZKT-600203 can be used to solve a variety of tasks. So, at recent exhibitions, the Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant showed, first of all, a cargo modification of the machine. In this configuration, a simple side body with arches for installing an awning is mounted on the middle and rear parts of the frame. Experienced chassis appear in the same form in advertising photographs.
The official advertising materials about the MZKT-600203 project also mention the possibility of installing other equipment. At the request of the customer, the existing chassis can be equipped with various special equipment, including combat modules. The approximate appearance of a self-propelled antenna post with a folding mast, a bridgelayer and a combat vehicle were published. It is curious that the schematically depicted combat vehicle "carries" a module of a characteristic shape, reminiscent of the devices of the Pantsir anti-aircraft missile-gun complex of Russian design.
The chassis is capable of not only transporting the payload on its own cargo area, but also towing a trailer. For this, a standard towing device is provided in the rear of the frame. Also, the car can be towed using another vehicle.
The chassis is characterized by high cross-country ability, but certain problems are not excluded. In this case, the project provides for the use of additional funds. At the request of the customer, MZKT-600203 can be equipped with a self-recovery winch. The characteristics of this device are sufficient to "rescue" a loaded vehicle.
The special four-axle chassis is dimensioned accordingly. The total length of the vehicle, taking into account the loading platform, exceeds 9.4 m. The width along the body, excluding the frames with rear-view mirrors, is 2.5 m. The height is about 3.4 m. The ground clearance is 370 mm. Track - 2, 07 m, wheelbase - 5, 95 m. Bridges are installed at different intervals. The distance between the two front axles is 1.65 m, the center gap is 2.85 m. The rear axles are located closest to each other, with a distance of 1.45 m between the axles. The angles of the front and rear overhangs are 42 ° and 44 °, respectively.
The curb weight of the Volat MZKT-600203 car is set at 17 tons. The carrying capacity is also 17 tons. The total weight of 34 tons is unevenly distributed along the axles. The front axles carry 8 tons of load, the rear axles - 9 tons each. The weight of the trailer is equivalent to the payload on the site.
According to the manufacturer, the maximum speed of the car on the highway reaches 105 km / h. The cruising range provided by 600 liters of fuel is 830 km. The possibility of climbing a slope of 60% (34 °) and movement with a roll up to 46% (27 °) is declared. The undercarriage allows you to drive over an obstacle with a height of 700 mm and overcome a trench with a width of 1, 8 m. The machine fords water bodies with a depth of up to 1.5 m on the move. Certain preparation allows you to increase the fording depth to 1.8 m. The minimum turning radius (along the track) is 12.8 m.
The family of the so-called. The Volat MZKT-6001 tactical chassis has been under development for several years and already includes a number of equipment samples with different characteristics. The considered machine MZKT-600203 is currently its newest representative, showing the highest carrying capacity. Further development of existing ideas, capable of providing a new increase in the main characteristics, should be a promising chassis with a wheel arrangement of 10x10. Nevertheless, while it exists only in the form of a concept, and therefore the honorary title of the best sample of the line remains with the four-axle machine.
The MZKT-600203 chassis was presented to the general public several years ago, and soon it managed to attract the attention of customers. Over the past years, the Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant has repeatedly participated in various domestic and foreign exhibitions of military equipment, showing, among other things, its latest developments. Probably, it was during one of these exhibitions that special vehicles interested the military department of the United Arab Emirates.
In 2016, several Minsk cars of different models were sent to the UAE for testing in conditions as close as possible to real operation. The vehicles with the weighted payload simulators had to cover about 2 thousand km on roads, rugged and mountainous terrain, as well as on a sandy desert. The tested machines, including the MZKT-600203, were forced to operate at high temperatures, up to the maximum permissible, and also to deal with dustiness and other characteristic problems.
During the tests, Belarusian-made cars showed themselves well and proved their ability to work even in the difficult conditions of the UAE. The result of this was a contract for the supply of a significant number of new equipment. In accordance with the existing agreements, the Emirates army receives four-axle chassis MZKT-600203 and three-axle MZKT-600103. Also, the Middle Eastern country became the starting customer of the MZKT-741351 tank carrier.
The fact of purchasing some Volat cars may have a positive effect on the future of the entire 6001 family. Before signing the contract with the UAE, several of the presented chassis were tested in the harshest conditions and proved their potential. Such tests were carried out by the army of the United Arab Emirates, but their results may be of interest to the armed forces of other countries. Seeing the possibilities of Belarusian technology, they may wish to purchase it. However, so far information about new contracts for the supply of MZKT-600203 has not appeared.
Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant has extensive experience in the field of special multi-purpose chassis suitable for solving a wide range of tasks of a transport or other nature. Modern ideas with the help of up-to-date technologies and units were implemented within the MZKT-6001 family. The tactical chassis MZKT-600203, in turn, is currently the newest and most powerful model in this line. Apparently, in the foreseeable future - probably until the appearance of new technology with a 10x10 wheel arrangement - it will retain this status.
