Currently, there is a steady demand for armored vehicles of various classes on the arms and military equipment market. In response to the needs of potential customers, military-industrial enterprises of different countries create new projects of such equipment, which are subsequently offered to their own or foreign armed forces. Relatively recently, the industry of the Republic of Belarus joined such works. Not so long ago, Belarusian enterprises presented a new project of a promising armored car called "Vitim".
The latest project was first presented to specialists and the general public during the recent Army-2016 international military-technical forum, held in the Russian Patriot park. While the Vitim project is in the early stages of development, which is why it is not yet ready for a full-fledged demonstration. Visitors to the exhibition were shown a large-scale model of a promising development, as well as some advertising materials for the new project. A full-fledged prototype is expected at a later date. Perhaps the prototype will be built by the beginning of the next military-technical forum.
The Vitim project was developed by the Minsk company Minotor-Service, known for its work in the field of armored vehicles. In recent years, this organization has presented a number of projects for the modernization of existing samples, and in addition, several promising machines have been developed. In the exposition of the forum "Army-2016" the company "Minotor-Service" presented several newest samples. These were full-fledged prototypes of the special chassis "Breeze" and "Mosquito", as well as a mock-up of the armored car "Vitim".
In accordance with the idea of the authors of the project, the Vitim armored car should become a multipurpose combat vehicle, suitable for use in solving a wide range of tasks. It is assumed that the armored car will be able to carry out reconnaissance in the near rear of the enemy, accompany and protect convoys, patrol specified areas, transport and support soldiers with fire. It is also possible to use such equipment by police units or internal troops as an assault vehicle. In the future, "Vitim" can become the basis for the installation of small arms or missile weapons, electronic equipment, etc.
At the moment, the Vitim armored car is a universal wheeled chassis with an armored body, which in theory allows it to be used for various purposes. For this, the vehicle can be equipped with weapons, equipment and other payloads of the required type.
From the point of view of the general layout, the promising Belarusian armored car is a typical representative of its class. This is a vehicle on a wheeled chassis with a 4x4 formula, equipped with a bonneted armored hull and capable of transporting people or various loads. The machine does not have a frame and is built on the basis of a supporting body on which all the necessary units are mounted. In the design of the armored car, some solutions were used to protect the crew and troops from various threats. High mobility is also provided with the ability to move on roads, off-road and water.
The protection of the main units, crew and troops is assigned to the armored body of the vehicle. The declared ballistic protection of the armored car corresponds to level 2 of the STANAG 4569 standard. It is argued that the body can withstand the hit of an armor-piercing incendiary bullet of a cartridge 7, 62x39 mm when fired from any direction from a distance of 10 m. Relatively weak mine protection corresponding to level 1 of a foreign standard is also provided. The bottom of the armored hull is capable of protecting the crew only from hand grenades or an explosive device with a charge of no more than 0.5 kg of TNT.
The body of the armored vehicle is built according to the bonnet layout and is divided into two main compartments: engine and habitable. Protection of the engine and other units of the power plant is assigned to the armored hood of a standard form for such equipment. In addition, under the engine there is an armoring of the bottom of the hull. The hood is equipped with an upper inclined armor piece, in which there are several windows covered with grilles for air access. For greater convenience in servicing equipment, the hood is equipped with several large handles. The lower part of the frontal projection of the engine compartment is closed by a protected grille, which provides air access to the radiator. On the sides of the lattice, blocks of lighting equipment are installed. The sides of the engine compartment are located vertically. A characteristic feature of the frontal part of the body is a wide and powerful bumper, equipped with devices for attaching tow cables.
The inhabited compartment has inclined frontal parts necessary for attaching glass. Vertical side plates and a horizontal roof are used. The hull stern sheet is also mounted strictly vertically. In terms of shape and appearance, the body of the Vitim armored car is not something unique or unusual. The main focus is on the characteristics of protection and ease of production, which led to the appearance of a unit that is not too complex, but has the required characteristics.
A turbocharged diesel engine and part of the transmission units must be located under the armored hood of the vehicle. It is proposed to use a 215 hp diesel engine as the basis for the power plant. The engine is mated to a five-speed manual transmission that delivers torque to all wheels of the chassis. Individual wheel suspension is used. The use of additional propellers, such as a water cannon, is not provided for by the project.
Inside the protected habitable volume, there are five places for the crew and troops. The first row seats are intended for the driver and, if necessary, the commander. There are three more seats behind them. Thus, not counting the driver, the Vitim armored car can carry up to four soldiers with weapons. For access to their seats, the crew and the troopers must use the side doors of the "automobile" type. It is noteworthy that the doors of one side open in different directions, although there are vertical posts between the openings. Due to the relatively high height of the machine, large steps are provided on the side parts of the hull.
It is proposed to observe the road and the environment using a set of windows with bulletproof glass. Two large protected glasses are mounted in the frontal frame of the habitable compartment. Two more pairs of glasses are proposed to be installed in the side doors. At the same time, the driver's and commander's doors have larger complex glass windows, while the "passenger" windows are characterized by a reduced height and rectangular shape with rounded corners. Another similar glass is placed on the aft door. The stern and rear side windows are equipped with embrasures with armored flaps, controlled from the inside.
Behind the crew and landing places in a protected compartment, a volume is placed to accommodate various cargo, weapons, etc. For access to the cargo compartment in the stern sheet of the vehicle, at the left side, a door is provided with a step under it. The right side of the stern, in turn, is given over to accommodate the spare wheel and some other units. Below the door and wheels, on the sides of the stern sheet, there are two casings for lighting equipment.
A sunroof can be used to mount weapons or special equipment. The Vitim project provides for the installation of a large round hatch on the aft part of the hull roof. In the basic version of the project, the hatch has two doors that open in different directions. In accordance with the wishes of the customer, various weapons or special equipment can be installed on the hatch mounts. So, in the advertising materials, images of an armored car appear both without weapons and with a machine gun on a simple pivot installation. It is argued that in the future, an armored vehicle can become a carrier of various weapons, including guided missile systems for various purposes.
The armored car of the new model turned out to be relatively compact, and also does not have a high combat weight. Machine length is 5, 3 m, width - 2, 4 m, height - 2, 2 m. Clearance - 430 mm, wheelbase - 3, 2 m. 40 °. The curb weight of the armored car is determined at 6 tons. The payload weight can reach 1 tons. Thus, the maximum combat weight is limited to 7 tons.
With a specific power of more than 30 hp per ton the armored car "Vitim" will be able to reach speeds of up to 125 km / h on the highway. The power reserve is determined at 800 km. An ascent to a wall with a height of 0.4 m or a 30-degree rise will be provided. The maximum roll angle when driving is 20 °. The smallest turning radius (along the body) is 8.1 m.
The project provides for the possibility of overcoming water obstacles by swimming. However, the armored car needs some preparation to move on water. First of all, it is necessary to install a wave-reflecting shield of a broken shape on the hood mounts, with the help of which the upper air intakes of the engine are protected from seawater. In addition, some other preparations are required. It is estimated that it takes no more than 10 minutes to prepare for going out on the water. Due to the rotation of the wheels, Vitim will be able to reach speeds of up to 5 km / h on the water. The diameter of the circulation on the water is determined at 22 m.
The promising project, named after the Siberian river, envisages measures aimed at ensuring the operation of equipment in a variety of geographic and climatic conditions. It is planned to ensure the full operation of the armored car at air temperatures from -50 ° to + 50 °. With humidity up to 100%, the machine can operate at temperatures up to + 25 °. The power plant must be capable of normal operation at altitudes up to 3000 m above sea level. In all such conditions, the comfortable work of the crew and the use of weapons or special equipment must also be ensured.
The goal of the promising Vitim project, developed by the Belarusian company Minotor-Service, was to create a new multipurpose armored vehicle that could be used to solve various combat and auxiliary missions using one or another weapon or equipment. As follows from the recently published data, the main tasks of the project were solved, which resulted in bringing the project to the stage of showing at exhibitions. Continued development and implementation of new work will eventually allow Vitim to be tested, and then, possibly, to serial production in the interests of certain customers.
Nevertheless, the project is still far from supplies to the troops or security forces. To date, the development company has produced only a model of a promising vehicle and prepared a package of advertising materials intended for the "Army-2016" exhibition. At the recent international military-technical forum, everyone had the opportunity to get acquainted with a new development from the near abroad in its current form. It is still unknown when specialists and the public will have the opportunity to see a full-fledged prototype.
The published information about the Vitim project allows us to draw some preliminary conclusions. The study of the known data allows us to say that the new Belarusian armored car will have both pros and cons. Some features of the project can positively affect its commercial prospects, while some shortcomings can alienate a potential customer.
The undoubted advantage of technology can be considered high mobility, due to a relatively powerful engine and the ability to cross water obstacles by swimming. Highway speed up to 125 km / h and sailing ability can be important factors that can influence the customer's decision. At the same time, it is worth considering the need for preliminary preparation before going out on the water, however, the consequences of this feature of the project may be the subject of additional discussions.
Another advantage, characteristic not only of "Vitim", but also of many other modern armored cars, is the possibility of using it for various purposes. At the same time, an armored car can be not only a vehicle for personnel and cargo, but also a full-fledged combat vehicle with one or another weapon. In the future, under a certain set of circumstances, such a feature of the new project may lead to the appearance and putting into service of a fairly wide range of armored vehicles for various purposes.
The main disadvantage of the Vitim project can be considered the design of the armored hull, which provides relatively weak protection for the crew and the main units of the vehicle. Level 2 ballistic protection according to STANAG 4569, with some reservations, can be considered sufficient for a modern armored car, which should find widespread use in the army. In turn, the existing mine protection can hardly be recognized as corresponding to modern views on the development of light armored vehicles. Now armored vehicles have to face much more serious threats than hand grenades or 500-g TNT charges. The lack of adequate protection can seriously affect the real prospects of a new sample.
Protection characteristics can impose certain restrictions on the operation of new technology. First of all, the operator will have to decide on the possibility of using armored cars at the forefront. In addition, an analysis of the risks associated with possible detonation on explosive devices is required. Such an analysis, combined with the correct choice of additional equipment, will help determine the real prospects of the technology, as well as find the most profitable way of using it in the expected conditions.
The balance of pros and cons of a new project can have a significant impact on the commercial prospects of a new project. In addition, an important factor influencing the future of the Vitim armored car is the current situation on the arms and equipment market. Currently, a significant number of wheeled armored vehicles with similar parameters are presented on the international market. Some of these samples have already found buyers and are mass-produced in large quantities, while others are only trying to win back their market share. As a result, any new project faces active competition, which can reduce its opportunities and prospects.
Thus, one should not be surprised if the new Vitim armored car, which is distinguished by the ability to solve many different tasks, but does not have a powerful reservation, will not be able to become the subject of large contracts. At the same time, a certain amount of such equipment can find its operator in the person of the Belarusian or foreign armed forces.
A new project of a promising armored car was presented only a few weeks ago. To date, the Vitim armored car exists only in the form of an exhibition layout and images from advertising materials. In the foreseeable future, the Minotor-Service company will have to build and test a prototype machine, after which it will be possible to wait for the appearance of news about contracts for the supply of serial equipment. In addition, the appearance of a full-fledged prototype will improve the exposition of the developer at future exhibitions and salons, which will additionally help promote the new project, and will also allow specialists and technology lovers to learn more about the new Belarusian development.
