In recent years, a number of promising armored vehicles for various purposes have been developed in our country. The main creator of such equipment is the Military Industrial Company, and its main novelty can now be considered the Atlet machine, first presented last year at the Army-2019 forum. This armored car is currently undergoing various tests.
Preliminary tests
During the first open display at the exhibition, it was stated that the prototypes of the "Athletes" would be tested in the very near future. Soon "VPK" clarified the timing of these events. Preliminary tests began on August 5. At this stage, prototypes of the armored car in two modifications - a special ASN and a multipurpose AMN-2 - were to be tested.
The tests were carried out with the participation of representatives of the armed forces, research organizations and units from the "military-industrial complex". The base for the events was the testing grounds of the Research Institute of Automotive Technology in Bronnitsy, the Research Institute of Armored Vehicles (Kubinka) and NAMI.
First of all, the running characteristics of the equipment were checked. Experienced “Athletes” have covered thousands of kilometers on various routes of various kinds and with various obstacles. The behavior on water obstacles was investigated. We also checked the performance in the entire range of specified climatic conditions.
As part of these tests, the level of protection of the armored car was to be checked. To confirm the declared characteristics, it was planned to carry out shelling and detonation tests.
At the end of November, the Zvezda TV channel showed another issue of the Military Acceptance program called "Athlete Armored Car". Bogatyr on Wheels”. It showed curious footage from running, climatic and other tests of experimental equipment carried out in previous months.
New stages
In early December last year, the TASS news agency, with reference to the press service of the "VPK", disclosed the details of the current work on the "Athlete". At that time, some of the events were ending, and the start of new ones was expected.
At that time, the development company was completing preliminary tests of the armored car. One of the prototypes was disassembled in order to study the technical condition and fine-tune the structure. The condition of the second was not specified, but his further fate could be unenviable. For November-December, tests of this prototype were planned by shelling and detonation, aimed at determining the real level of protection.
After these events, the "military-industrial complex" was going to begin preparations for state tests. The start of this stage was scheduled for the spring. The events were planned to be carried out using the first prototype. By the start of testing, it must be reassembled with the restoration of technical readiness and design modifications based on the test results.
Is the armor strong?
On February 21, the press service of the "VPK" and TASS reported on the testing of the protection of the armored car. At the range of one of the research organizations, the experienced "Athlete" was subjected to detonation, shelling and other influences characteristic of a combat situation.
As part of these tests, the car was fired upon with the use of ammunition corresponding to the calculated level of protection, explosions were carried out under the car and next to it. The resistance of the armored car to arson was also tested using a fire mixture. The experienced "Athlete" passed all the checks and confirmed the calculated characteristics.
"MIC" has specified the protection indicators of the armored car. Ballistic protection is able to withstand a hit of a 7.62 mm armor-piercing rifle bullet. Mine protection saves the crew from 2 kg of TNT under the wheel or bottom. Such characteristics will not allow attributing the "Athlete" to the MRAP class, but they favorably distinguish him from the previous "Tiger". In comparison with the latter, the level of protection of the "Athlete" is several times higher.
Back to the test
The development company informs that the project "Athlete" is now being finalized in accordance with the comments of the Ministry of Defense made on the results of preliminary tests. At the same time, the technical readiness of the experimental equipment is being restored, which will have to go to the test site again.
State tests of the "Athlete" will begin in May. The timing of their completion has not yet been specified. Previous events within the framework of this project suggest that the main activities will be completed by the end of the year. The armored car will have to re-confirm its characteristics, and after that the issues of acceptance into service will be resolved.
The development company believes that the Atlet armored car, having confirmed its characteristics, will be able to find application in the Russian army or in law enforcement agencies. Also, such a machine may be of interest to foreign countries.
Promising sample
The Athlete project proposes the construction of a two-axle multipurpose armored vehicle capable of transporting people and goods or carrying special equipment. The armored car is considered as a supplement or replacement for the existing "Tiger", which is characterized by increased characteristics - first of all, protection.
At the moment, there are two versions of the "Athlete" with a different armored hull design. The body with bulletproof and splinterproof protection can have a set of three or five doors. The three-door ASN car is considered as a special vehicle, the five-door AMN-2 as a multipurpose vehicle. In terms of protection level, both modifications are identical.
The payload of the car is 1600 kg with the possibility of bringing it up to 2500 kg. The habitable compartment can accommodate up to eight people, including the driver. All cab configurations include a front row of seats with driver and commander seats. The placement of the rest of the fighters can be different. For example, the AMN-2 modification provides two seats near the rear side doors and several seats in the aft part of the cockpit. The landing party can use personal weapons using the embrasures in the glazing.
The armored car is equipped with a Yaroslavl diesel engine YaMZ-5347-24 with a capacity of 240 hp. The transmission provides four-wheel drive. Machine weighing approx. 9 t develops a speed of at least 120 km / h on a highway, a cruising range of 1000 km. Earlier it was mentioned that in the future "Athlete" can get a new, more powerful engine. As a result, the main characteristics will grow, incl. carrying capacity.
"Athlete" is a universal platform suitable for the installation of various equipment or weapons. On the roof can be mounted remotely controlled combat modules of different models with one or another weapon - at the request of the customer. In the future, it is possible that specialized modifications with special equipment will appear. The possible development of a civilian version of the chassis was mentioned.
It is not known whether the "Athlete" will be able to get into service, although the situation as a whole is conducive to optimism. It is also not yet clear which structures and divisions will receive this equipment. Earlier, the leadership of the "military-industrial complex" noted that the new armored car will be an addition to the existing "Tiger" and will solve other problems. At the same time, representatives of the company talked about the possible replacement of the "Tiger" with a new model, but the exact date was not named.
Apparently, the real future of a promising armored car will be determined a little later. Now the main task of the "Military-Industrial Company", the Ministry of Defense and several organizations from its composition is to fine-tune the design and conduct state tests. These activities will take several months - and there may soon be new messages on the progress of the project.
