The domestic manufacturer intends to interest our military in new models of armored vehicles
Russian enterprises producing light wheeled armored vehicles are still trying to maintain their monopoly position as the main supplier of the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation. In particular, a new version of the Tiger armored car with the highest protection class has been created for our security officials.
The design team of the Military-Industrial Company has developed two modifications of the Tiger: VPK-233114 Tiger-M and an armored car with protection class 6a according to Russian GOST (R 50963-96). In the near future, both machines will be provided to potential customers for testing.
"Tiger-M" is an updated version of the already well-known armored car, supplied to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. According to a representative of the Military Industrial Company, improvements were made to the design based on an analysis of the wishes of the servicemen using this machine, primarily in the North Caucasus. She received an armored hood, a reinforced braking system - such a wish was expressed by operators who have to move a lot in mountainous terrain. An important distinction of the new armored car was the domestic engine - a diesel engine of the YaMZ-534 family will be installed on the Tiger-M. But the vehicle in the SPM-2 version, at the beginning of September transferred for trial operation to the special operations battalion of the Brazilian police, like all still manufactured Tigers, is equipped with a Cummins engine, produced under license in this South American country.
By the way, according to the results of the first patrols in the suburban areas of Rio de Janeiro, the so-called favelas, where the highest crime rate was recorded, Russian armored vehicles made a very favorable impression on the law enforcement officers. While driving on narrow streets with prolonged climbs in 36-degree heat, the engine showed no signs of overheating - the coolant temperature remained within operating limits. This fact did not go unnoticed by the Brazilian experts and was included by them in the list of the Tiger's advantages. The possibility of embarking and disembarking police special forces soldiers through roof hatches, side and stern doors, good visibility, a high level of protection, the ability to fire from personal weapons through loopholes, low noise level, ease of control and maintenance were also noted.
Tests "Tiger" in Brazil are scheduled to be completed by March 2011, after which the local police will consider the purchase of an initial batch of cars and put forward their demands for changes to the configuration. If the Brazilian authorities decide to purchase the Tigers, the machines will begin to be manufactured at the Arzamas Machine-Building Plant. There is no talk about the assembly production in Brazil yet.
A large number of changes have been made to the design of the modified "Tiger". The increase in anti-bullet armor, which now, as mentioned above, corresponds to level 6a, the strengthening of mine protection significantly weighed the car. Therefore, it was required to carry out some re-arrangement, to increase the performance of the braking system. In this version, the "Tiger" will be able to protect the crew and the landing force when detonated on a land mine with a capacity of 6 kg in TNT equivalent, as well as from shelling from a distance of 5-10 m with domestic rifle cartridges of caliber 7, 62 mm with an armor-piercing incendiary bullet B-32 or cartridges 7, 62x × 51 mm NATO with M948 armor-piercing bullets having a tungsten core.
The new "Tiger" should compete with the Italian BM IVECO LMV, which the Russian Ministry of Defense still considers the best example among armored vehicles with enhanced mine protection. However, the final decision on which car to give preference will be made during comparative tests of Russian and Italian samples. The main thing is that the choice of the RF Ministry of Defense should be truly impartial.
