Probably the main way to update the Ukrainian army's fleet of equipment now is the repair and modernization of old armored vehicles produced in the days of the USSR. The other day, the industry once again handed over to the army a batch of converted reconnaissance and patrol vehicles BRDM-2L1. This time, the transfer of technology is said to have been made possible by a number of successes and achievements.
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On April 16, the state concern "Ukroboronprom" reported that the state enterprise "Nikolaev Armored Plant", which is part of it, completed work on the next batch of BRDM-2L1 and handed it over to the customer. Eight vehicles go to the army as part of a new defense order.
It is noteworthy that a new batch of equipment was manufactured even before receiving an official order from the Ministry of Defense, but this approach paid off. The finished vehicles were handed over to the customer almost immediately after the contract was signed.
It is reported that in the recent past NBTZ faced serious problems. By the beginning of 2019, the company had accumulated large debts under overdue contracts. At the beginning of last year, the management changed at the plant, and the new managers had to solve these problems. At the end of last year, the debt to the Ministry of Defense was paid off, and the volume of work increased.
It is also noted that the assembly of a new batch of BRDM-2L1 had to be completed in an epidemic and quarantine. In this regard, some of the employees were sent home, and the rest continue to work. Despite this, the plant was able to fulfill the order.
Modernization principles
It should be recalled that the Nikolaev Armored Plant has extensive experience in the restructuring and modernization of reconnaissance and patrol vehicles. The first project of this kind appeared in the late nineties. In the future, once every few years, they presented another version of the BRDM-2 update with certain features.
All such projects were based on the same ideas. The existing body was minimally altered, the outdated engine gave way to a modern one, the armament remained the same, and all onboard electronics were replaced. The current project BRDM-2L1 is already the fourth development of this kind from NBTZ - not counting similar projects of other enterprises.
During the modernization of the BRDM-2 to the "L1" level, a number of units are being overhauled with the restoration of technical readiness. Others are subject to change. The main innovations affect the design, interior and ergonomics of the armored hull. At the same time, the level of protection and combat capabilities as a whole remains the same.
Additional wheels are removed from the central part of the body and niches under them are removed, which allows freeing up space inside the car. Openings for doors are cut in the sides. To simplify production, rectangular upper hatches from the BTR-60P are used as doors - right with a standard frame. In the upper sheets of the hull, embrasures are installed for firing from personal weapons.
In reports about the BRDM-2L1, a certain increase in the level of protection is mentioned. At the same time, the standard hull armor does not undergo any noticeable changes, with the exception of the insertion of new units. Thus, the vehicle must still provide protection against automatic and rifle bullets without an armor-piercing core.
According to reports, the BRDM-2L1 retains the same power plant based on a gasoline engine and a standard manual transmission. The latter is simplified due to the lack of additional wheels. The powertrain and chassis go through the bulkhead but are not rebuilt. The water cannon and the possibility of crossing water obstacles by swimming are preserved.
The project does not affect the standard tower of the BPU-1 type with the installation for KPVT and PKT machine guns. It should be noted that the vehicles of the new batch, which had recently left the NBTZ, had no weapons. They were supposed to receive their machine guns later, already in the combat unit.
The on-board equipment complex has undergone a serious revision. Used modern navigation and communication devices of Ukrainian and foreign production. A thermal imager has been introduced for operation in the dark (whose places are equipped, is not specified).
The release of the volumes inside the hull made it possible to organize additional places for the landing. Inside the BRDM-2L1, it was possible to accommodate 7 people - against 4 in the basic modification. Access inside is provided by old and new hatches. General improvement in ergonomics is stated.
Production volumes
In service with Ukraine, according to various sources and estimates, there are at least 400 BRDM-2 vehicles of several modifications. Since the late nineties, several attempts have been made to repair and modernize such equipment in order to maintain or improve the basic characteristics. Until now, all such projects, incl. created with the participation of NBTZ, were not particularly successful.
So, the first project of modernization of the BRDM-2LD ended with the restructuring of only 10 armored vehicles. The release of such equipment had to be stopped due to the bankruptcy of a plant that supplied new engines. Subsequent upgrades, such as BRDM-2M, BRDM-2DI, etc. also did not allow the launch of a full-scale renewal of the army fleet.
The current project BRDM-2L1 still looks the most successful and successful. In 2017, factory tests of this version of the armored vehicle were carried out, after which the military ones started. Then an order was received for a serial upgrade. The first samples of "L1" were handed over to the customer last year. A few days ago, another batch was broadcast.
Thus, to date, the Ukrainian army has received more than a dozen modernized BRDM-2L1. In terms of its quantity, such equipment has already surpassed the machines of previous projects. However, both now and in the foreseeable future, equipment with the letters "L1" in terms of numbers will not be able to compare with the basic BRDM-2.
Mixed results
The recent delivery of modernized equipment gives cause for optimism - but only within the framework of the current BRDM-2L1 project. The project was successfully brought to a series and deliveries of finished equipment to the troops, and in "record" quantities. However, such successes are directly related to a number of serious problems facing the Ukrainian industry.
The "new" BRDM-2L1 is another version of the processing of the reconnaissance and patrol vehicle, created in the early sixties. The Ukrainian army has a fairly large fleet of old BRDM-2s and is unable to fully replace them with completely new equipment. Because of this, we have to look for solutions in the form of modernization projects.
At the same time, the financial capabilities of the customer are not very large, and orders are not distinguished by large volumes. As a result, the transfer of only eight modernized vehicles becomes an important event worthy of special mention. All recent modernization projects have consistently faced similar problems.
Thus, despite all the optimism of customers and contractors, the BRDM-2L1 project is facing all the observed negative trends and therefore is unlikely to be able to change the existing state of affairs in industry and the army. The army needs new vehicles, but even with the current volume of orders and production rates, the modernization of the entire fleet of old BRDM-2 vehicles will take many years. However, this does not prevent the industry and the army right now to happily report on the delivery of as many as eight armored vehicles.
