Armored vehicle VPK-59095S "VPK-Ural"
Experienced armored car VPK-59095S at the training ground
Both in the past and now, the idea of building armored vehicles based on commercial units is very popular. Several years ago, the Russian "Military Industrial Company" made the first attempt to develop such a project, which resulted in the armored car VPK-59095S "VPK-Ural". This machine has already demonstrated technical and economic advantages and even reached the series.
First try
The promising armored car VPK-59095S was first shown at the Army-2019 forum. Then the management of "MIC" said that this project is the first attempt by the company to create a protected car based on existing commercial units. Ural trucks and armored cars were selected as the source of such products.
The main units of the chassis, power plant and transmission, etc. are borrowed from the Ural brand. The building and other systems "VPK" developed independently, incl. borrowing parts from the "Athlete" armored car. This approach to design made it possible to speed up and simplify the development process, and also had a positive effect on the economic and operational characteristics of the finished armored car.
Driver's seat
"VPK-Ural" was positioned as a multipurpose armored vehicle capable of transporting people or carrying various equipment and weapons. In the future, it became known about the possibility of creating new modifications, providing for a serious reworking of the armored hull and changing the internal equipment.
It is curious that the new armored car is not legally a military product. Due to this, as noted by "VPK", such products can be supplied to the customer directly, without a number of specific procedures.
On trial and in the series
In March 2020, the leadership of the "VPK" announced that the new armored car VPK-59095S is undergoing preliminary tests. At the same time, the project has already interested an unnamed foreign buyer. Based on his needs, he ordered a smaller version of an armored car with an interior for 8 seats instead of the original 12. By the time of publication news such a machine was built and sold to the customer.
View of the salon through the aft door
In October last year, it became known that four experimental vehicles from the "military-industrial complex" took part in the strategic exercises "Kavkaz-2020". This technique, incl. armored car "VPK-Ural", had to show itself in conditions as close as possible to real operation. Soon it was reported that all four types of equipment successfully coped with the tests and, in general, confirmed the calculated characteristics. Taking into account the data and experience obtained, the armored cars were planned to be improved and brought into full compliance with the requirements of the Ministry of Defense.
Shortly after such tests, at the end of October 2020, "MIC" announced the imminent start of the series and export. The buyer of the armored car was supposed to be an unnamed country in the Middle East. The signing of the contract and the transfer of the first machines were expected before the end of the year. The development company noted that "VPK-Ural" has already passed tests at the customer's site. The test was carried out at the test site and in the hot desert climate. All specifications have been confirmed; moreover, they managed to get a top speed of 130 km / h.
On November 1, 2021, "VPK" spoke about the development of a new modification of the armored car, which has already gone into production. At the request of a foreign customer, a car with a shortened body and side body was developed. By now, the company has built a batch of such pickups and is ready to send it to the buyer.
Technical features
The armored vehicle VPK-59095S "VPK-Ural" is a multipurpose vehicle on a two-axle all-wheel drive chassis with an armored body that accommodates a single-volume cabin and is suitable for installing additional equipment. The length of the armored car is 6,5 m with a width of 2,55 mm and a height of 2,8 m. The total weight is 14,5 tons.
Under the armored hood is a turbocharged diesel engine YaMZ-536 with a capacity of 360 hp. Customers are offered an automatic 6-speed or manual 5-speed transmission. The chassis has a spring suspension borrowed from the Ural-53099 armored car. Due to the chassis, built on commercial components, the armored car is capable of speeds of at least 100 km / h, overcome various obstacles and fords.
The hull as a whole was designed specifically for the new armored car; side doors are borrowed from the "Athlete" car. The hull received level 5 ballistic protection according to GOST R 50963. The habitable compartment can be reinforced up to class 6a. Mine protection includes a double V-shaped bottom and can carry up to 6 kg under the wheel or under the hull.
In the basic version, demonstrated since 2019, the VPK-Ural armored car has a large interior for 12 seats, including the driver. There are four forward facing "mine" seats with access through side doors. Behind the second row there are 8 more seats, four at each side. These seats are accessed through the aft door or through the passage in the second row.
Shown the other day, the pickup armored car receives a shortened body with two rows of seats. A side body is installed in the vacant space above the rear axle. Perhaps other equipment can be installed instead.
Depending on the needs of the customer, the VPK-59095S can receive various equipment and weapons. In particular, two hatches are provided on the roof with the possibility of mounting a machine gun or a grenade launcher. There are armored shields next to the hatches. Due to the re-equipment of internal volumes, it is possible to create command-staff, ambulances and other vehicles. Also, an armored car can carry communication devices, electronic warfare, etc.
Successes and prospects
The "Military Industrial Company" is actively working on the creation of promising armored vehicles, and in the recent past has developed another similar vehicle with the index VPK-59095C. It shows high tactical and technical characteristics, and the growth of operational and economic indicators is provided by the use of commercial components. In addition, significant modernization potential has been laid.
Pickup "VPK-Ural" of the new batch
As it is now clear, such decisions have fully justified themselves. The resulting armored vehicle "VPK-Ural" in the basic version has successfully passed the full cycle of tests on the territory of an unnamed foreign customer. The machine confirmed the design characteristics and became the subject of the first order. Also, armored pickup trucks were manufactured, tested and put into series for a foreign buyer.
The prospects of the VPK-59095S in the context of the rearmament of the Russian army are still unknown. The vehicle has been tested in major exercises and has received a good rating, but no other reports have been received yet. Perhaps the armored car is currently being tested and fine-tuned, according to the results of which it will receive a recommendation for adoption. At the same time, he may be of interest not only to the army, but also to other structures in need of wheeled armored vehicles. It is possible to order machines of several modifications at once.
However, in order to get into the army or power structures, "VPK-Ural" will have to pass all the necessary tests and confirm compliance with the customer's requirements. In addition, it will be necessary to show advantages over other domestic armored cars of its class. It is quite possible that it is the commercial components from Ural that will become this advantage.
Information