War in Ukraine: Russia’s largest truck manufacturer to develop new armored combat vehicle

Moscow has found a new ally. The Kamaz automobile manufacturing company will develop a new armored personnel carrier for the Russian army. The CEO of the Kamaz company Sergei Kogogin informed Vladimir Putin of his decision this Tuesday during an interview, according to several Telegram channels citing a Kamaz press release.

“The company director informed the president about import substitution projects at production plants, new vehicles, including the K5 series, and the range of military products,” the Kremlin simply confirmed in a statement. Social support for factory personnel and the humanitarian mission in the special military operations zone were at the heart of the discussions. »

“More efficient use of the vehicle”

According to the specialist site Militarnyi, the project is currently at the prototype development stage, with a presentation planned for 2026. The armored vehicle should then undergo tests later in the year before production of a first example for 2027.

The Russian army has been looking for several months for a solution to replace several models of armored personnel carriers that have become obsolete. The new vehicle will be equipped with a 6×6 or 8×8 wheeled platform with protection against mines and bullets, and close combat armament such as a 12.7 mm machine gun or 30 mm cannon.

“The design will include a convenient ramp for disembarking troops, which will allow more efficient use of the vehicle as a means of transportation on the front,” Kamaz said in its statement.

Moscow’s choice to bet on the Kamaz company remains surprising to say the least. Known as Russia’s largest truck manufacturer, the company specializes in commercial vehicles and is not necessarily a traditional manufacturer of armored personnel carriers, unlike other companies such as Arzamas.

But Sergei Kogogin’s company is known to be close to the Kremlin. Nearly half of its production last year was supported by commercial customers, in other words by government orders.