For obvious reasons, the army needs not only military equipment, but also construction or engineering vehicles. For the construction of various objects, cleaning of obstacles, etc. the engineering troops need specialized samples, including those created on the basis of commercial equipment. An example of such an approach to the rearmament of engineering units is a promising project of a wheeled road vehicle of an armored KDMB.
To date, a large number of various specialized vehicles with various capabilities, built on the basis of serial armored vehicles, have been adopted by the engineering troops. Now it is proposed to build similar samples using commercial chassis. One of the first domestic projects of this kind was the result of international cooperation. The two developers joined forces and equipped the modified foreign-made chassis with new equipment.
The first configuration of the experimental KDMB
The KDMB project was created by the 41st Central Railway Engineering Plant (Lyubertsy), which is part of the Uralvagonzavod corporation, in cooperation with German specialists from Liebherr. The aim of the project was to adapt the existing front loader to meet the special challenges faced by military engineers. The work on the project started several years ago, and by now have led to the most serious results.
Last year, the 41st Central Plant and Liebherr took part in the international military-technical forum "Army-2016". At the open area of this exhibition, a prototype of the "Armored wheeled road vehicle" was demonstrated. It should be noted that at that time the prototype did not fully live up to its name. In particular, it lacked advanced booking.
In 2017, the joint project was again presented at an exhibition in the Patriot park near Moscow. This time, a prototype with a full-fledged protection complex was demonstrated. Otherwise - in terms of the main structural elements, power plant, chassis and target equipment - the updated prototype was similar to the one presented in the past.
Soon after a new public demonstration, the KDMB machine was able to demonstrate its potential in real conditions. In September, the Main Armored Directorate of the Ministry of Defense organized a new expedition with the participation of several promising models of automotive and special equipment. This time, a number of modern vehicles had to go through a difficult route along the Volga, along the southern deserts and in the mountains of the North Caucasus. The end point of the run was Elbrus.
The expedition was attended by several modern armored vehicles and trucks of the latest models. In addition, an experienced KDMB was involved in the race as technical assistance. Moving in the same ranks with other domestic machines, she had to demonstrate her driving and operational qualities. If necessary, she had to clear the road and ensure the passage of other tested equipment.
For several weeks, vehicles of various types under the control of specialists from the military department passed the specified route, which made it possible to clarify their real capabilities. According to some reports, during the rally, the "Armored wheeled road vehicle" had to not only follow other equipment, but also use its special equipment.
According to known data, the 41st Central Railway Engineering Plant and the Liebherr company decided to use a fairly simple and obvious approach when creating the KDMB project. As the basis for the engineering vehicle, a serial front loader was taken, which should have been partially modified and equipped with some new units. The required design changes were primarily related to survivability in a combat situation. Unlike civilian commercial models, the military "Armored wheeled road vehicle" needs protection of the cabin, power plant and other units.
The basis of the KDMB is a two-axle articulated front loader equipped with a diesel power plant. There is an advanced hydraulic system used to control special equipment. Despite the military purpose, during the restructuring, this machine retains its main features, primarily the layout.
The units are mounted on an articulated frame consisting of two main units. Its front element has fastenings for the wheel axle, and also serves as the basis for the installation of the boom with the working body. At the front of the rear frame, directly above the hinge, is the driver's cab. Behind it is the engine compartment, below which the rear axle is installed. Two large machine units are connected by a hinge that allows them to move relative to each other in a horizontal plane. Their position is controlled by a hydraulic system controlled by the driver.
KDMB is equipped with a 180 hp diesel engine. Engine torque is supplied to both the chassis and hydraulic components. The chassis uses two axles with large diameter wheels. The articulated arrangement with the controlled mutual position of the frame elements made it possible to abandon the steered front axle - maneuvering is carried out due to the "bending" of the entire structure.
KDMB at the exhibition "Army-2016"
In the central part of the car there is a relatively large driver's cab. The first prototype, on display in 2016, had an unprotected cockpit. As part of the further development of existing ideas, a new habitable compartment was developed. The cockpit with bulletproof and splinterproof armor has a fairly simple shape and consists mainly of flat panels located at small angles to each other. To ensure the best view, the cockpit does not have a full-fledged frontal sheet, instead of which a large-area armored glass is installed. There are openings for additional glazing in the sides and aft sheet of the cab. There is a door on the port side. Due to the high cabin height, a ladder is also installed on the port side.
The driver is invited to work in a closed area, which is why the project provides for the use of certain life support systems. The cabin is equipped with a filtration unit and air conditioning capable of maintaining an acceptable microclimate in a wide range of external conditions.
It is proposed to cover the engine compartment of an engineering vehicle with its own armored casing. To protect the engine and associated units, a housing of a relatively complex shape, formed by a large number of flat surfaces, is used. It is curious that outwardly such an armored hull resembles the standard units of Liebherr commercial forklifts, for obvious reasons that do not have any protection.
In front of the wheels of the rear axle, there are additional armored boxes that perform the functions of protecting the fuel tank and other devices. However, no proper wheel protection is provided. At the same time, the rear wheels are covered with developed arches from above.
A standard boom is used, built on the basis of a pair of side beams and a central articulated unit. The movement of the blade or other working body is controlled by several hydraulic cylinders. Depending on the type of the problem being solved, the KDMB can move the working body in a vertical plane and raise it to a considerable height above the ground.
In 2016 and 2017, the exhibition samples of the Armored Wheeled Road Vehicle were completed with the same set of special equipment. On the lifting boom, a bulldozer-type blade was fixed, which had a variable geometry. This product consists of several main parts. The largest are the side panels of the straight type, equipped with knives on the lower edge. On the sides they are equipped with folding devices of a similar design, differing in their smaller width. A coupling assembly is located between the two main moldboard panels, which bridges the center gap regardless of their position.
This blade configuration allows excavation to be carried out in a variety of conditions. The blade can be wedge-shaped or straight depending on the task at hand, soil type and other factors. With the side folding elements retracted back, the blade width does not exceed the transverse dimensions of the machine. Their use, in turn, allows you to increase the width of the processed strip.
When converting a commercial chassis into an experimental KDMB, a device was also created for placing special equipment in the stern. Apparatus of appropriate dimensions is proposed to be mounted on a small site, which is a continuation of the frame. For the correct distribution of loads, the platform is reinforced with triangular vertical elements supporting it on the sides. A well-known prototype uses this platform as a support for the winch. This device is rigidly fixed in place and feeds the cable back.
Reportedly, the curb weight of the KDMB reaches 16.6 tons. In transport position on a good road, it is capable of speeds up to 45 km / h. All systems are controlled from the driver's seat. The crew consists of only one person.
According to available data, the "Armored Wheeled Road Vehicle" is primarily intended for organizing routes and ensuring the passage of other equipment. If it is impossible for military or automobile equipment to move on the available surface, the KDMB must level the terrain using its dozer blade. Its design allows you to break off some obstacles, as well as move different types of soil.
The current version of the Wheeled road vehicle
The presence of a winch also allows you to solve some other tasks. For example, this unit can be used to help stuck cars. There may also be other situations in which the cable may be useful.
It should be noted that serial German-made front loaders are equipped not only with bulldozer dumps. This technique is also equipped with buckets of various configurations. It can be assumed that in the course of further development, the KDMB will be able to use various special equipment necessary to solve certain problems.
As far as is known, to date, KDMB has passed at least part of the necessary tests. In addition, she took part in the race from the Moscow region to Elbrus. All this makes it possible to determine the real possibilities and prospects of the original technique. Apparently, in the near future, a potential customer will make a final decision, after which an order may appear for a certain number of serial engineering machines.
The industry considers the military department as the main customer. Nevertheless, a similar technique may be of interest to the Russian Guard. In early 2017, the command of this structure announced its plans to abandon engineering equipment built on the basis of army tracked armored vehicles. Wishing to obtain economic benefits while maintaining the required potential, Rosgvardia plans to switch to wheeled vehicles. Thus, a promising KDMB may be of certain interest for such a customer.
The Armed Forces need engineering vehicles of various classes that have certain capabilities. An interesting version of such a technique was recently proposed by Lyubertsy designers. In the future, the main ideas of the promising project were developed, which led to the emergence of the KDMB in its current form. Not so long ago, experienced equipment has been tested, according to the results of which it can be put into service. What will be the future of the original engineering machine - time will tell.
