TTM-1901 "Berkut" is a Russian snowmobile (also called "snowmobile"), which is produced by the plant of transport and technological machines "Transport" from Nizhny Novgorod. This is the only cab-type machine in our country among all ski-tracked snowmobiles. Production has been underway since 2007, while today an updated version is being released, which has received the designation "Berkut-2". The customers of this snowmobile are representatives of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the army and the border service. At the same time, the car is also interesting for the civilian market; it may appeal to fans of winter fishing, hunting and tourism.
The history of the creation of the modern Russian snowmobile "Berkut" dates back to 1962, when a research laboratory of all-terrain vehicles (NILVM) was created under the leadership of S. V. Rukavishnikov at the Gorky Polytechnic Institute. For 20 years, a small group of enthusiasts has been designing new equipment, creating during this time about two dozen tracked snow and swamp vehicles and snowmobiles for the needs of Soviet agriculture and forestry, geologists, oil workers and the military. Among other things, a ski-tracked snowmobile GPI-1910 was created here in 1975, which had a closed cabin and was created on the basis of the units of the ZAZ-968 "Zaporozhets" passenger car. This snowmobile was created for the needs of search and rescue services in the framework of the joint Soviet-American space project "Soyuz-Apollo". This snowmobile, which managed to successfully pass the tests and was recommended for adoption for supply by the Air Force, can now be called a distant relative of today's Berkut.
In 1991, a special design and technological bureau of transport and technological machines, abbreviated as SKTB TTM, was separated from NILMV, headed by Associate Professor NB Veselov. Subsequently, the bureau was reorganized into ZAO Transport, reorganized in 2015 into OOO NPO Transport. The new enterprise continued to develop a variety of light ski-tracked all-terrain vehicles. In 2005, a new model, the TTM-1901 "Berkut", was launched here, which was created on the basis of the components of the VAZ-1111 "Oka" passenger car. The military version of this all-terrain vehicle passed army tests in 2006.
The TTM-1901 "Berkut" ski-tracked all-terrain vehicle created in Nizhny Novgorod was designed to monitor the condition of pipelines, communication lines and power lines, as well as other communications, patrolling rough terrain, guarding various objects, fishing, hunting and other types of active winter recreation. In this model, a two-seater heated cab from an Oka passenger car with a trunk located in front and a cargo platform in the rear of the all-terrain vehicle was used. The snowmobile was equipped with a VAZ-21213 80 hp carburetor engine, paired with a mechanical 5-speed gearbox.
The undercarriage of the all-terrain vehicle includes two skis, as well as two caterpillar trolleys from the Taiga snowmobile with rubber-reinforced tracks, track width - 500 mm. For transportation over long distances, the snowmobile can be placed in the body of a Gazelle car, and it can enter there by itself if there is a special inclined ladder. For a long time, the production of "Berkut" was not active enough. Until 2011, only about 20 copies of this snowmobile were collected. The disadvantages of the first machine included high operating noise, insufficient comfort and low maneuverability.
That is why the Transport company did not stop working on the modernization of the ski-tracked snowmobile with a closed heated cabin TTM-1901, which received the designation Berkut-2, which is currently being tested and is being prepared for serial production. The updated model was presented in 2012. Compared to the Berkut, which has been produced since 2005, it has the following changes:
1. The cab and the engine hood are made of composite materials on a metal frame, which made it possible to reduce the weight of the model.
2. The cab and the motor-transmission unit of the snowmobile were made separate, they are interconnected by silent blocks with travel stops. This design solution allows:
- to increase the mutual travel of the rear caterpillar suspension and the front skis. This significantly increases the ability to adapt the suspension of the snowmobile to the track bed, thereby removing a significant part of the peak loads on the snow cover;
- the load on the controlled skis remains almost constant, it does not depend on the nature of the unevenness of the road. This allows you to increase the stability of the ski-tracked all-terrain vehicle;
- Redesigned steering linkage and power steering increase the precision of the snowmobile and reduce the effort on the steering wheel, making it easier to control.
3. The connection of the snowmobile cab and the engine-transmission unit through the silent blocks significantly reduces the noise level in the cab.
4. The cabin separated from the engine-transmission unit and the modified cooling system exclude the occurrence of gas contamination of the internal volume of the cabin.
5. The intake of air necessary for engine cooling from the cab roof and the release of hot air through the tailgate exclude clogging of air inlets and outlets with snow.
6. More comfortable and ergonomic interior.
The relevance of such equipment as "Berkut-2" has increased in recent years. At present, Russia is moving to active economic development of the vast northern territories. Today, the government is aiming at protecting Russian interests in the Arctic with a whole range of measures, including military ones. Such actions seem justified in the light of the growing tension in the world and increased attention to this region, including from the NATO member states. In this regard, the Russian military is considering options for equipping the Arctic units of the RF Armed Forces with a variety of specialized vehicles. One of them may well be the updated ski-tracked snowmobile TTM-1901 "Berkut-2".
“Today it is the only vehicle that is able to move on virgin soil with any thickness of snow cover at a speed of 35-40 kilometers per hour,” noted the inventor of the snowmobile, director of the plant Nikolai Veselov. At the same time, Russian TTM snowmobiles have a number of distinctive features that set them apart from other mass-produced models: the presence of a heated cab, which provides the crew with comfortable conditions (at the level of a car) at low ambient temperatures and adverse weather conditions; high maneuverability and controllability; high stability when driving a snowmobile over rough terrain and cross-country ability on virgin snow without limiting the depth of the snow cover.
Snowmobile "Berkut-2" received a closed two-seater cabin with an efficient heating system. Even at an ambient temperature outside of -50 ° C, a quite comfortable + 18 ° C remains inside the cabin. An interesting feature is that the all-terrain vehicle's cab doors open 180 ° and can be fixed along the sides. Also, the model added the ability to transport two soldiers on an external fence in the space behind the cockpit. There can also be a place for a machine gunner, who can fire directly on the move.
At present, the Berkut-2 snowmobile is equipped with an ordinary gasoline engine with a Zhiguli. The engine starts easily even at temperatures down to -50 ° C. But special oil and gasoline are used in the Arctic. Fuel consumption is about 18 liters per 100 km, which is quite satisfactory for the army leadership. Another important advantage of a modern snowmobile is that any average car enthusiast is able to drive this technique. In its cab there is a familiar steering wheel, three pedals (gas, clutch and brake) and a manual gearbox - everything that is in any passenger car. Therefore, it does not take more than 15 minutes to train a beginner.
The modernization carried out, which led to the emergence of "Berkut-2", allowed the "Transport" enterprise to regain the interest of customers and resume mass production of a rather interesting machine. In particular, in 2015, the snowmobile was officially adopted by the Border Guard Service of the FSB of Russia. The EMERCOM of Russia also shows significant interest in the Nizhny Novgorod development. It is this ministry that in the future may become the main customer of the Berkut-2 ski-tracked all-terrain vehicles. It is also reported that in 2016 the Russian Ministry of Defense placed an order for 40 Berkut-2 snowmobiles, which are designed to operate in the Arctic.
The military modification of this TTM-1901-40 all-terrain vehicle differs from the civilian version by the installation of a more powerful engine, a night vision device in the driver's seat, a searchlight mounted on the roof, and the presence of a turret behind the cab for installing a single 7.62-mm PKP Pecheneg machine gun . The main purpose of the military version is the transportation of personnel and various cargoes, towing trailers (sledges) weighing up to 300 kg across snow-covered rough terrain and virgin snow.
The updated version of the Berkut, which has received a new ergonomic cockpit made of composite materials, boasts a dashboard from the LADA Priora car and a power steering from the Chevrolet Niva. Berkut-2 has become more convenient, more comfortable, lighter and more maneuverable. The future plans of the Nizhny Novgorod enterprise "Transport" include the installation of an automatic transmission and a diesel engine on the snowmobile. At the same time, the manufacturer will try to keep the cost of his car within 600-700 thousand rubles.
The performance characteristics of TTM-1901-40 "Berkut 2":
Overall dimensions: length - 3870 mm, width - 1730 mm, height - 1970 mm.
Track width - 500 mm.
The curb weight is 1200 kg.
Full weight - 1500 kg.
The mass of the towed trailer (sleigh) is 300 kg.
Number of seats - 2 (4) people.
The power plant is a gasoline engine with a capacity of 86.9 hp.
The maximum speed is 65 km / h.
The power reserve is up to 500 km.
Overcoming obstacles:
- ascent (descent): 30 ° (without sleigh), 20 ° (with sleigh);
- slope: 20 °.
