New armored cars from Streit Group and KrAZ
At the last IDEX-2015 exhibition, several dozen new models of military equipment and weapons were presented. Canadian Emirates company Streit Group, known for its development in the field of armored vehicles, showed two prototypes of new armored vehicles. A curious feature of both developments is the used chassis: for cheaper cars are built on the basis of trucks of the Ukrainian KrAZ automobile plant. New equipment is offered for delivery to third countries. One of the first customers of these machines can become the armed forces of Ukraine.
Hurricane armored car
The first development of the Streit Group, presented at the exhibition in Abu Dhabi, - armored Hurricane ("Hurricane"). This machine belongs to the class of MRAP and is designed to transport soldiers or cargo in dangerous areas. The machine is designed to protect the crew and cargo from small bullets. weapons and explosives planted on the road. The Streit Group Hurricane armored vehicle was created in cooperation with the Ukrainian KrAZ enterprise, which provided the base chassis, on which all the necessary units are mounted. According to some data, the use of such a chassis has made it possible to a certain extent to reduce the cost of finished equipment.
Externally, the armored vehicle "Hurricane" is similar to other modern samples of similar purpose. It has a relatively high armored hull mounted on the base chassis with the wheel formula 8 x8. The layout of the internal hull volumes is typical for armored cars without a bonnet: the driver’s cabin is located in front of the hull, and the engine compartment is located behind it. The middle and aft of the hull are given for the placement of passenger seats.
The armor case of the Hurricane machine is assembled from a set of sheets of various shapes, which accordingly affects its contours. According to the developer, the case corresponds to the 4 level of the NATO standard STANAG 4569. This means that the armor of the machine can withstand the hit of an 14,5 caliber armor-piercing bullet. The bottom of the case has a special V-shape, designed to reduce the impact of the shock wave when the explosive device is blown up. The exact parameters of mine protection are unknown. Probably, the new armored car can withstand the undermining of mines weighing up to several kilograms.
The relatively high characteristics of ballistic and mine protection have affected the dimensions of the machine. The Streit Group Hurricane armored vehicle has a total length of 9,32 m, a width of 2,58 m and a height of 3,1 m. The curb weight of the vehicle has not yet been reported. It can be assumed that this parameter exceeds 10-15 t.
The KRAZ H27.3EX (KRAZ-7634NE) Ukrainian-designed chassis was used as the basis for the new armored car. This chassis has a wheel formula 8х8 with the ability to disable some axles. Initially, it was proposed to equip the chassis, presented last year, with a diesel engine and transmission of the Yaroslavl Motor Plant. In the version for the new armored vehicle, the chassis uses a different type of powerplant. The “Hurricane” is equipped with a Cummins ISME 385 turbocharged diesel engine rated at 380 hp. and an American-made Allison 400 six-speed automatic transmission.
The habitable volume of the body, given under the accommodation of people, is divided into two parts. In front of the armored hull there is a double cabin for the driver and commander. Their jobs are equipped with a set of necessary equipment. To protect against bullets and splinters, the front cabin has a large frontal armored glass and two relatively small windows in the side doors. A specific and controversial feature of the prototype shown is the used commander and driver seats. As can be seen in the available photographs, the crew of the armored car has to sit in the most ordinary seats that do not have special “anti-mine” equipment. Thus, new risks are added to the risks associated with the beskapotny layout of the machine, in the form of the absence of special seats. Perhaps in the future this problem will be fixed.
The middle and aft of the hull are given under the troop compartment. 10 folding chairs are located along the sides. Under them there are boxes for the transport of various property. Armchairs are additionally equipped with seat belts. Some issues are fastening chairs: they are mounted on brackets installed at the sides of the hull. Modern MRAP armored cars usually use armchairs suspended from the ceiling, which can reduce the impact of a shock wave on a person. However, in the future armored Hurricane can get other seats.
Each side of the troop compartment has three windows with bulletproof glass. For firing from personal weapons in the glass provided loopholes with loopholes. In the rear hull sheet there is a door opening to the side. In its upper part there is a window with an embrasure. Due to the use of the door, rather than the lowered ramp, a small ladder had to be installed in the rear part of the machine.
So far, the Streit Group Hurricane armored vehicle is only shown in the protected vehicle version. In the future, the emergence of other vehicles on the basis of this machine is possible. We can expect the development of an armored truck or other equipment with special equipment.
The first copy of the armored vehicle "Hurricane" was shown just a few days ago. For this reason, it is too early to talk about his prospects. Potential customers have not yet had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with this machine, because of which information on possible purchases should appear later. Ukraine, which is interested in joint development of the Streit Group company and the KrAZ automobile plant, can become the starting customer of this technology. So, in the arsenal of the Ukrainian army there are already armored vehicles of two models, which are the result of such cooperation.
Feona armored car
The second novelty from the Streit Group, created with the participation of the KrAZ plant, is the Feona armored car, also referred to as MRAP. Like Hurricane, this car is designed to transport fighters and protect them from small arms or explosive devices. In this case, the machine has a different layout and chassis.
Unlike the Hurricane armored vehicle, the Feona is built with a bonnet layout that is more familiar to the MRAP. The power plant of the machine is rendered in a separate volume in front of the cockpit, with the help of which an additional reduction of the impact of the shock wave on the crew is ensured, since the engine and the front part of the hull take over some of its energy. Behind the engine compartment is a common cockpit and landing.
The KrAZ-6322 truck chassis with the wheel formula 6х6 was selected as the base platform for the Streit Group Feona armored vehicle. An interesting fact is that the Feona armored car has the same composition of the power plant as the Hurricane. Under the armor hood is a Cummins ISME 385 diesel engine with an 380 horsepower, coupled with an Allison 400 automatic transmission. In combination with a relatively small size and weight of the machine, such a power plant should provide sufficiently high performance.
Armored car Feona inferior to "Hurricane" in terms of protection. Reservations for this vehicle only correspond to the 2 level of the STANAG 4569 standard. Sheet metal and glass sheets are able to protect the crew only from 7,62 mm caliber automatic rifle bullets. In addition, protection against explosive devices is provided, for which the bottom of the case has a special V-shape. Exact information about the level of mine protection is not available.
All crew and landing sites are located in the total volume of the hull. In the front part there are driver’s and commander’s seats, and in the rear there are landing places. For landing and disembarking in the sides, the doors of the commander and the driver are provided; the landing party must use the aft door. Due to the high altitude of the machine, steps are located under all the doors. To protect against attack in the windows of the troop compartment are installed embrasures with flaps. The number of paratroopers transported has not yet been named. Judging by the size, the vehicle can carry up to 5-6 soldiers without taking into account the driver and the commander.
It is alleged that the Streit Armory Division of the Streit Group Feona can be equipped with any equipment that is required by the customer. In particular, the machine can receive seats that absorb part of the explosion energy under the bottom or the wheel.
Since the “premiere” of the Feona armored car took place quite recently, there is no information about possible orders for the supply of such equipment. Nevertheless, it can be assumed that a certain number of such machines will be acquired by Ukraine in the near future, showing great interest in the joint development of its KrAZ enterprise and the foreign company Streit Group.
Mixed prospects
If we take into account only the main characteristics published by the company-developer, then for the first time the shown armored cars are quite capable of taking their place in the fleet of vehicles of various armies. Nevertheless, the real characteristics of the machines Hurricane and Feona may be far from the declared. The reason for such doubts is the information about the operation of the already delivered armored cars built by the Streit Group and KrAZ. At the end of last year, the Ukrainian military received the first batch of Spartan armored cars assembled at the KrAZ plant from foreign components. A few weeks later, the first information appeared about the operation of these machines in real conditions.
In the course of a brief trial, a whole series of various deficiencies in the technique was revealed. Complaints were made about the strength of the undercarriage, some features of the transmission, the complexity of operation and maintenance, etc. Not without problems with protection and armament. Thus, the armored glass could not withstand the second shot, and the design of the machine gun turret did not provide adequate protection for the shooter.
The reasons for such problems lie in the fact that the Streit Group does not have much experience in the development and refinement of military armored vehicles. Naturally, the shortcomings inherent in previous developments should be corrected in new projects, but it is too early to talk about reaching the level of world leaders. Thus, the armored cars Hurricane and Feona can be considered interesting developments, which appeared as a result of international cooperation, which, however, have not yet shown their best side. To make a full impression of this technique, you need to wait for the test results and further operation in real conditions. In the meantime, new armored cars are able to attract potential customers except with a spectacular appearance and curious design characteristics.
On the materials of the sites:
http://armored-cars.com/
http://military-today.com/
http://bmpd.livejournal.com/
http://defence-blog.com/
http://autokraz.com.ua/
http://vpk.name/
Hurricane armored car
The first development of the Streit Group, presented at the exhibition in Abu Dhabi, - armored Hurricane ("Hurricane"). This machine belongs to the class of MRAP and is designed to transport soldiers or cargo in dangerous areas. The machine is designed to protect the crew and cargo from small bullets. weapons and explosives planted on the road. The Streit Group Hurricane armored vehicle was created in cooperation with the Ukrainian KrAZ enterprise, which provided the base chassis, on which all the necessary units are mounted. According to some data, the use of such a chassis has made it possible to a certain extent to reduce the cost of finished equipment.
Externally, the armored vehicle "Hurricane" is similar to other modern samples of similar purpose. It has a relatively high armored hull mounted on the base chassis with the wheel formula 8 x8. The layout of the internal hull volumes is typical for armored cars without a bonnet: the driver’s cabin is located in front of the hull, and the engine compartment is located behind it. The middle and aft of the hull are given for the placement of passenger seats.
The armor case of the Hurricane machine is assembled from a set of sheets of various shapes, which accordingly affects its contours. According to the developer, the case corresponds to the 4 level of the NATO standard STANAG 4569. This means that the armor of the machine can withstand the hit of an 14,5 caliber armor-piercing bullet. The bottom of the case has a special V-shape, designed to reduce the impact of the shock wave when the explosive device is blown up. The exact parameters of mine protection are unknown. Probably, the new armored car can withstand the undermining of mines weighing up to several kilograms.
The relatively high characteristics of ballistic and mine protection have affected the dimensions of the machine. The Streit Group Hurricane armored vehicle has a total length of 9,32 m, a width of 2,58 m and a height of 3,1 m. The curb weight of the vehicle has not yet been reported. It can be assumed that this parameter exceeds 10-15 t.
The KRAZ H27.3EX (KRAZ-7634NE) Ukrainian-designed chassis was used as the basis for the new armored car. This chassis has a wheel formula 8х8 with the ability to disable some axles. Initially, it was proposed to equip the chassis, presented last year, with a diesel engine and transmission of the Yaroslavl Motor Plant. In the version for the new armored vehicle, the chassis uses a different type of powerplant. The “Hurricane” is equipped with a Cummins ISME 385 turbocharged diesel engine rated at 380 hp. and an American-made Allison 400 six-speed automatic transmission.
The habitable volume of the body, given under the accommodation of people, is divided into two parts. In front of the armored hull there is a double cabin for the driver and commander. Their jobs are equipped with a set of necessary equipment. To protect against bullets and splinters, the front cabin has a large frontal armored glass and two relatively small windows in the side doors. A specific and controversial feature of the prototype shown is the used commander and driver seats. As can be seen in the available photographs, the crew of the armored car has to sit in the most ordinary seats that do not have special “anti-mine” equipment. Thus, new risks are added to the risks associated with the beskapotny layout of the machine, in the form of the absence of special seats. Perhaps in the future this problem will be fixed.
The middle and aft of the hull are given under the troop compartment. 10 folding chairs are located along the sides. Under them there are boxes for the transport of various property. Armchairs are additionally equipped with seat belts. Some issues are fastening chairs: they are mounted on brackets installed at the sides of the hull. Modern MRAP armored cars usually use armchairs suspended from the ceiling, which can reduce the impact of a shock wave on a person. However, in the future armored Hurricane can get other seats.
Each side of the troop compartment has three windows with bulletproof glass. For firing from personal weapons in the glass provided loopholes with loopholes. In the rear hull sheet there is a door opening to the side. In its upper part there is a window with an embrasure. Due to the use of the door, rather than the lowered ramp, a small ladder had to be installed in the rear part of the machine.
So far, the Streit Group Hurricane armored vehicle is only shown in the protected vehicle version. In the future, the emergence of other vehicles on the basis of this machine is possible. We can expect the development of an armored truck or other equipment with special equipment.
The first copy of the armored vehicle "Hurricane" was shown just a few days ago. For this reason, it is too early to talk about his prospects. Potential customers have not yet had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with this machine, because of which information on possible purchases should appear later. Ukraine, which is interested in joint development of the Streit Group company and the KrAZ automobile plant, can become the starting customer of this technology. So, in the arsenal of the Ukrainian army there are already armored vehicles of two models, which are the result of such cooperation.
Feona armored car
The second novelty from the Streit Group, created with the participation of the KrAZ plant, is the Feona armored car, also referred to as MRAP. Like Hurricane, this car is designed to transport fighters and protect them from small arms or explosive devices. In this case, the machine has a different layout and chassis.
Unlike the Hurricane armored vehicle, the Feona is built with a bonnet layout that is more familiar to the MRAP. The power plant of the machine is rendered in a separate volume in front of the cockpit, with the help of which an additional reduction of the impact of the shock wave on the crew is ensured, since the engine and the front part of the hull take over some of its energy. Behind the engine compartment is a common cockpit and landing.
The KrAZ-6322 truck chassis with the wheel formula 6х6 was selected as the base platform for the Streit Group Feona armored vehicle. An interesting fact is that the Feona armored car has the same composition of the power plant as the Hurricane. Under the armor hood is a Cummins ISME 385 diesel engine with an 380 horsepower, coupled with an Allison 400 automatic transmission. In combination with a relatively small size and weight of the machine, such a power plant should provide sufficiently high performance.
Armored car Feona inferior to "Hurricane" in terms of protection. Reservations for this vehicle only correspond to the 2 level of the STANAG 4569 standard. Sheet metal and glass sheets are able to protect the crew only from 7,62 mm caliber automatic rifle bullets. In addition, protection against explosive devices is provided, for which the bottom of the case has a special V-shape. Exact information about the level of mine protection is not available.
All crew and landing sites are located in the total volume of the hull. In the front part there are driver’s and commander’s seats, and in the rear there are landing places. For landing and disembarking in the sides, the doors of the commander and the driver are provided; the landing party must use the aft door. Due to the high altitude of the machine, steps are located under all the doors. To protect against attack in the windows of the troop compartment are installed embrasures with flaps. The number of paratroopers transported has not yet been named. Judging by the size, the vehicle can carry up to 5-6 soldiers without taking into account the driver and the commander.
It is alleged that the Streit Armory Division of the Streit Group Feona can be equipped with any equipment that is required by the customer. In particular, the machine can receive seats that absorb part of the explosion energy under the bottom or the wheel.
Since the “premiere” of the Feona armored car took place quite recently, there is no information about possible orders for the supply of such equipment. Nevertheless, it can be assumed that a certain number of such machines will be acquired by Ukraine in the near future, showing great interest in the joint development of its KrAZ enterprise and the foreign company Streit Group.
Mixed prospects
If we take into account only the main characteristics published by the company-developer, then for the first time the shown armored cars are quite capable of taking their place in the fleet of vehicles of various armies. Nevertheless, the real characteristics of the machines Hurricane and Feona may be far from the declared. The reason for such doubts is the information about the operation of the already delivered armored cars built by the Streit Group and KrAZ. At the end of last year, the Ukrainian military received the first batch of Spartan armored cars assembled at the KrAZ plant from foreign components. A few weeks later, the first information appeared about the operation of these machines in real conditions.
In the course of a brief trial, a whole series of various deficiencies in the technique was revealed. Complaints were made about the strength of the undercarriage, some features of the transmission, the complexity of operation and maintenance, etc. Not without problems with protection and armament. Thus, the armored glass could not withstand the second shot, and the design of the machine gun turret did not provide adequate protection for the shooter.
The reasons for such problems lie in the fact that the Streit Group does not have much experience in the development and refinement of military armored vehicles. Naturally, the shortcomings inherent in previous developments should be corrected in new projects, but it is too early to talk about reaching the level of world leaders. Thus, the armored cars Hurricane and Feona can be considered interesting developments, which appeared as a result of international cooperation, which, however, have not yet shown their best side. To make a full impression of this technique, you need to wait for the test results and further operation in real conditions. In the meantime, new armored cars are able to attract potential customers except with a spectacular appearance and curious design characteristics.
On the materials of the sites:
http://armored-cars.com/
http://military-today.com/
http://bmpd.livejournal.com/
http://defence-blog.com/
http://autokraz.com.ua/
http://vpk.name/
Information