Belarus does not often please the public with novelties of weapons and military equipment, therefore, each appearance of a new model causes a corresponding reaction. In mid-May, journalists from the BelaPAN agency managed to take several photos of a new armored car built at one of the Belarusian enterprises. A car without identification marks and license plates was moving along one of the highways, accompanied by a car with special signals. This small "cortege" was walking along the highway at a speed of about 100 kilometers per hour in the direction from Minsk. The correspondent of “BelaPAN” managed to take only a few successful pictures of the new armored car before it left and turned to another highway.
According to the information company BelaPAN, which published the photographs, the mysterious armored car without identification marks is a new development of the Belarusian defense industry. This is an armored car "Bars", which is undergoing tests and preparing for adoption. Other details about the car are not yet available and therefore one can only form an opinion about it from a few photographs. Nevertheless, the available materials allow us to draw certain conclusions and roughly estimate the potential of such an armored car.
Externally, the car "Bars" resembles some equipment of a similar purpose, created in third countries. This can be explained by the similarity of the requirements for the machine and a uniform approach to their implementation. So, a characteristic feature of all cars like the "Leopard" can be considered a large clearance, with the help of which the cross-country ability to some extent increases. Like other armored cars of this class, the new Belarusian development has an all-wheel drive chassis, which is clearly visible in some photographs. The type of chassis, engine and transmission used has not yet been specified. A variety of versions are being put forward: from using some of our own development to purchasing a suitable foreign chassis.
The combat weight of the Bars vehicle, judging by its dimensions, ranges from five to seven or eight tons. In this case, the car must be equipped with an engine with a capacity of at least 200 horsepower. For comparison, the Italian Iveco LMV armored car, weighing 6.5 tons, with the help of a 185-horsepower engine, can accelerate on the highway to 120-130 km / h. The Belarusian "Bars" allegedly walked along the highway at a speed of about 100 km / h, from which appropriate conclusions can be drawn about the engine and driving performance in general.
Protection characteristics were also not disclosed. The available photos only show that the Bars car has an armored hull assembled from rectilinear panels and laminated glass. It remains only to speculate about the level of protection of the materials used. Most likely, the most durable armor parts withstand the hit of standard non-armor-piercing bullets of the rifle cartridge 7, 62x54R. Armor-piercing ammunition of this caliber, as well as large-caliber bullets, armor probably won't stop. Another mystery of the new armored car is mine protection. At the present time, given the nature of the wars of recent years, such measures are given particular importance. Perhaps the Bars is equipped with a special armored V-shaped bottom. However, there are no details in the available photographs that directly indicate the presence or absence of such a protection system. Therefore, the issue of mine protection also remains open.
Barca's own armament, obviously, can consist of a machine gun or an automatic grenade launcher. The required weapon is mounted on an open turret above the sunroof. There was no armament on the armored car traveling along the highway, but a machine with a box for cartridges was installed on the hatch. To fire without leaving the reserved volume, the Barca crew can use the loopholes. Such units are installed on all windows of the car except for the windshield and front side windows. In total, the armored car has eight loopholes that can be closed from the inside: three on the sides and two in the rear.
The location of the bulletproof glasses and devices for firing personal weapons, as well as the rear door, do not allow making accurate conclusions about the layout of the troop compartment. Judging by the loopholes, the seats of the soldiers on the "Barca" are located in the same way as on Soviet and Russian armored personnel carriers and the soldiers sit facing the sides of the car. However, the design of the tailgate speaks of the placement of the seats at the sides. Landing in two front seats is made through the front side doors, on the seats of the troop compartment - through two side and one rear doors. The dimensions of the armored car allow us to talk about the transportation of up to seven or nine soldiers, not counting the driver.
Finally, it is worth noting the presence of large and, probably, quite comfortable steps under the doors, two winches in the front and rear of the car, as well as a "kenguryatnik" in front of the radiator grill, equipped with a mesh.
It is noteworthy that this is not the first appearance of Barça in public. Previous photographs with this armored car appeared back in 2011, when he had a chance to participate in a parade in Turkmenistan. The armored car sold to the Central Asian country differed from the recently seen Belarusian prototype in only a few external details. Perhaps the actual differences are greater, but the appearance of both cars does not differ significantly. The most noticeable difference between the Turkmen armored car was the presence of weapons. An NSV-12, 7 "Utes" machine gun was installed on the open turret. In addition, the turret was equipped with a shield consisting of two halves. After that parade, information about the Turkmen "Barca" was not received.
Once again "Bars" appeared on the pages of the Belarusian magazine "Spetsnaz" (December issue for 2012). There, a car similar to the one seen in mid-May was used as an example of Group A equipment of the KGB of Belarus. The armored car, against which the special forces soldiers were photographed, had the same kenguryatnik grille as the car from the track, and was also equipped with loophole covers of a characteristic beige color. The weapon and turret were missing.
Thus, even with the existing lack of information, we can confidently talk about the existence of at least two samples of the Bars armored car and about the beginning of export deliveries. The development of such a project is not surprising. Several years ago, Belarus has already demonstrated its Ocelot armored car of a similar purpose. In addition, on the basis of this armored car, a self-propelled anti-tank missile system "Karakal" was created, which can be armed with missiles of the required type. In light of this, the appearance of the new Bars armored car looks logical and expected. Belarus sees the need for light armored vehicles and is trying to close this niche on its own or with the help of international cooperation.
