- Alexander Vladimirovich, one of the main novelties of your company at the Army-2020 forum is the snow and swamp-going vehicle 5901. For what tasks was it created?

- Our car has, in fact, the same characteristics as the MT-LB tractor, which is widespread in the armed forces of the Russian Federation, but at the same time its quality is higher, and it fits into the price trend set by our main customer - the Ministry of Defense of Russia.

In January, the Zavolzhsky plant of caterpillar tractors (ZZGT) joined the military-industrial complex, which increased our engineering competence. The result was the 5901 snow and swamp-going vehicle presented at the "Army" - a unique amphibious tracked vehicle with a carrying capacity of 5 tons with very good cross-country ability. 

It is completely made from domestic components. We plan to expand this line and increase the carrying capacity of such machines. In particular, an armored model will appear, on which it will be possible to install any combat module.

The snow and swamp-going vehicle is definitely suitable for the Arctic grouping of troops, although, in principle, the range of its use is very wide. He can work off-road, perform tasks during natural disasters, be useful in the oil industry, geological exploration.

The snow and swamp-going vehicle presented at the forum has two-row seats, a beautiful comfortable interior, a good body compartment. Now the car is undergoing factory tests, and then we go into mass production.

- According to you, the snow and swamp-going vehicle has a very attractive price.

- It really is. The machine is assembled from components and assemblies that are mass-produced in Russia. There is nothing imported in it, which means that the exchange rate difference does not play a role in price formation. In addition, ZZGT has long been engaged in tracked vehicles and has extensive experience in the production of inexpensive and high-quality vehicles.

You know, you can, of course, work in different ways. For example, you can bend the prices of products, hoping to extract as much profit as possible from each sample sold. The military-industrial complex acts differently: our margin in relation to the cost price is modest, but we sell large volumes of equipment.

I think that the 5901 snow and swamp-going vehicle has a very good export potential, because it is also suitable for southern latitudes. At the "Army" we showed a sample with a manual transmission, but at the request of the customer, you can install an automatic machine or more powerful engines.

  • Snow and swamp-going vehicle 5901
  • © Alexey Zakvasin / RT

- Does the snow and swamp-going vehicle 5901 meet the environmental requirements relevant to the Russian Arctic?

- Firstly, we can put on the car an engine that provides the required amount of harmful emissions - for example, Euro-5. Secondly, it is possible to equip the snow and swamp vehicle with tracks with a low average specific pressure on the ground.

In particular, we can increase the area of ​​the tracks and rubberize them. In Nizhny Novgorod, we have our own engineering center, which is able to offer the layout of the machine for any customer's requirements, including environmental ones.

  • Alexander Krasovitskiy talks about the capabilities of the 5901 snow and swamp vehicle and the Strela armored car

- The light armored vehicle “Strela” made its debut at Army-2020 from the military-industrial complex in the amphibious version and in the usual classic design. What is its peculiarity? Why, from your point of view, does the armed forces need equipment of this class?

- The closest analogue of Strela is the Tiger line of cars. But the vehicle presented at the forum is much lighter - it is 4.7 tons versus 8 tons for the "Tiger". At the same time, its construction uses steel A3 with a thickness of 6.5 mm, which provides good bullet protection.

The military-industrial complex employees have already carried out the corresponding tests in our shooting range. Shooting was carried out at an angle of 90º with an armor-piercing incendiary cartridge from 30 meters. Bullet speed - 965 m / s. The Arrow withstood the hit, that is, its defense is even slightly higher than that of the Tiger, but at the same time it is almost twice as light and cheaper.

I can say with confidence that there is a need for such a car. We expect to sign a development contract with the RF Ministry of Defense in the near future, which will take into account all the military's requirements for Strela.

This machine also has a high export potential. It is cheap, with good ballistic protection, withstands an explosion of a device with a capacity of up to two kilograms of TNT under the wheel and under the bottom.

On the "Army" are the command vehicle and the floating sample of the "Strela". The movement of the amphibian through the water is provided by a special drive with a propeller, which is located under the waterline. Wheels do not fold under water and are used for steering. Naturally, the machine is completely sealed.

The Strela's cabin can accommodate up to eight people. We tried to make the interior as comfortable as possible. In terms of units, assemblies and structural elements "Arrow" is unified with "Athlete" and "Tiger".

The Arrow has already been ridden by the military, who have noted the extraordinary smoothness of the ride. In terms of control, the car is similar to a civilian car. "Strela" accelerates quickly and can reach speeds of up to 130-140 km / h on the highway. If we compare "Arrow" with "Tiger", then it is faster, but accelerates much longer.

In the future, we plan to present "Strela" in buggy and civilian versions. Thus, there will be a whole family: an armored vehicle, an amphibian, a buggy and a non-military vehicle, which is suitable for various household needs.

  • Light armored car "Strela" in the amphibious version
  • © Mikhail Voskresensky / RIA Novosti

- Alexander Vladimirovich, andwhat caused such an interest of the military-industrial complex in the buggy? For example, at the forum, your company showed "Tiger" in this unusual design for the Russian man in the street.

- The idea of ​​creating a buggy was born after our own analysis of the fighting. In this regard, we try to keep our finger on the pulse. What I mean? Today the military is asking us to install more serious weapons on the same "Tiger".

Yes, there is a Tiger with a 30mm cannon. It withstood this load, but it did not come to an order from the military, because this weapon is already being installed on our famous BTR-82A. There is also a "Tiger" equipped with ATGMs (anti-tank guided missiles. - RT ). By the way, it is selling well now.

However, the installation of heavier weapons is facing objective difficulties due to insufficient carrying capacity. And here the buggy just solves this problem. Removing the armor, we release about 800-900 kg. Accordingly, almost a ton is added to the base carrying capacity of the Tiger of 1.3-1.4 tons. In total, we get 2.2-2.3 tons. This carrying capacity allows us to supply any combat module.

In addition, the reduced weight of the Tiger gives an advantage in maneuverability and handling. The power reserve of the buggy is a thousand kilometers, no problems with dustiness. At the request of the customer, the military-industrial complex may not so radically release the mass - for example, leave armored doors. It seems to me that the "Tiger" buggy version will be in great demand both in Russia and abroad. There is already a certain interest in this car.

  • The head of the military-industrial complex Alexander Krasovitsky talks about the characteristics of the "Tiger" in the buggy version

- What is the peculiarity of yet another model of the military-industrial complex - the heavy armored car "Athlete"?

- At the Army forum, we presented a variant of the Athlete, which entered the state tests and has already received the corresponding letter. That is, this machine implements both our own modifications and the requirements of the military.

Compared to the Tiger, the Athlete has a more powerful suspension, more serious ballistic and mine protection. The vehicle is larger than the "Tiger" and surpasses it in carrying capacity - it is 1.7-1.9 tons. Accordingly, a heavier combat module, a cannon, an anti-aircraft missile system, ATGMs can be installed on this vehicle.

The forum also shows the commercial version of "Athlete", which is ready for export. What makes the novelty unique? Employees of our engineering center and the Arzamas machine-building plant eliminated all the "childhood diseases" that were observed in the "Tiger" in it.

To be honest, we were very surprised by the results of the Athlete's tests. After 30 thousand kilometers, nothing broke. Three-door and five-door cars were tested. Both proved to be excellent. Many people want to buy an "Athlete", but we are not selling it yet, because first our military should get this car.

  • Heavy armored car "Athlete"
  • © Alexey Zakvasin / RT

- A sample of the VPK-Ural armored vehicle, which even surpasses the Athlete in dimensions, was presented at the military-industrial complex exposition. What is this product?

“Our engineers took a standard 4 × 4 chassis from the (truck - RT ) Ural and installed an armored hull on this platform. Among the advantages of "VPK-Ural" I refer to good cross-country ability, ease of production and carrying capacity exceeding 2.5 tons. At the same time, at the price, "VPK-Ural" is comparable to the "Tiger".

Inside the car, 12 soldiers can be accommodated in full ammunition. The crew and troops are protected not only by armor, but also by anti-splinter protection. It prevents the penetration of shrapnel and eliminates ricochet if the bullet does fly into the car.

  • The head of the military-industrial complex Alexander Krasovitsky talks about a new armored car on the Ural chassis

- What can you tell us about the new fighting compartment for the armored personnel carrier, which is also shown on the forum?

- We are trying to move away from the status of a supplier of only the base chassis and develop competencies in the field of weapons. The Army demonstrated an uninhabited combat module created by the military-industrial complex engineers together with our strategic partner, the Armory Workshops company.

The product is a 30 mm cannon, two coaxial machine guns, two ATGM control channels and a new sight that works at any time of the day. Its installation made it possible to increase the target detection range from 1.2 km to 3 km.

There is also an automatic target acquisition and tracking. The combat module operator uses the joystick to capture the target, and then the vehicle itself works on it. In case of failure of the electronics, the possibility of manual control is provided.

I can say without false modesty that this module costs 2.5 times cheaper than analogs on the Russian market.

The creation of such products, as well as optics and stabilization systems (aiming guns. - RT ), is a direction that we are actively developing in order to be fully responsible for our products - from wheels to weapons. Life itself pushes us into this niche.