Recently, on the basis of the Scientific Research Testing Center (NIITs) of automotive equipment of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation (Bronnitsy, Moscow Region), a demonstration of promising samples of wheeled and tracked vehicles developed by leading domestic automakers for the needs of the Armed Forces took place. Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov gave a proper assessment of what he saw.
Designers of about 40 plants demonstrated the practical capabilities of both their latest developments and modernized models, the production of which was established in previous years, to the leadership of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, veteran military leaders and journalists, including armored vehicles "Tiger", "Bear", modifications of "KamAZ" and "Ural". Over 100 units of equipment were presented in a static mode, 42 units were demonstrated in dynamics (that is, in motion).
On the challenging track of the Research Institute of Research and Development, the cars showed miracles of cross-country ability. Tractors, fire trucks, vehicles for transporting personnel and cargoes rapidly moved through the rubble of the front edge, ditches, climbed steep hills, overcame water obstacles ford (and some even by swimming) and successfully came to the finish line. If fast driving on the highway in cars is mainly associated with foreign cars by our readers, then driving off-road with a breeze is a primordially Russian horse. In the literal sense of the word, because our "iron horses" have always been famous for this and, judging by the results of the show, they are not going to give this glory to anyone.
In recent years, another demand has been presented to our manufacturers of vehicles for the needs of the Armed Forces: to strengthen the protection of personnel from bullets, shrapnel and mines, as even the Supreme Commander-in-Chief spoke of. Yesterday, the leadership of the military department was able to make sure that the industry tried to fulfill this requirement. Samples of the protected equipment created by KamAZ and Ural were presented.
- The Ministry of Defense in 2009 set the requirements for the industry quite seriously, and already at today's demonstration one could see a number of new developments, - noted the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation Anatoly Serdyukov. He paid particular attention to several vehicles of the Typhoon family.
“These are absolutely new, modern and, I want to say, very promising machines,” he said. - I believe that in the coming years the Ministry of Defense will purchase just such machines.
“Today we saw a demonstration of absolutely original cars that are not yet in service with the Ministry of Defense, but I believe that we will return to them and see,” the head of the military department emphasized, adding that “these cars are associated with use in the Arctic zone, in the taiga, in difficult conditions."
Well, the representatives of the enterprises were able to demonstrate many advantages of the presented equipment.
The industry responded to the demands that were made on these products by the leadership of the Ministry of Defense. And I would like to hope that in the very near future our soldiers and officers will be able to drive the best vehicles, not only in terms of cross-country ability, but also the most reliable ones. And protected from bullets, mines and shrapnel are no worse than the vehicles of other armies of the world.
