The best armored personnel carrier in the world. Top ten armored personnel carriers according to Army Technology The best armored personnel carriers in the world top 10

Continuing the “Top 10” rating from the Discovery Channel, I would like to draw your attention to another funny selection. This time, the experts came to the attention of “Armored Personal Carriers” - a general designation for all types of armored vehicles intended for transportation personnel. The review included both light armored personnel carriers weighing 5 tons and heavy infantry fighting vehicles. Despite the seeming absurdity, this is quite logical - all this equipment, tracked or wheeled, regardless of its size, performs the same task - transporting people and cargo in military conflicts, protecting them with its armor. For example, there are no strict differences, for example, between an armored personnel carrier and an infantry fighting vehicle. The only thing that distinguished them in theory was that an infantry fighting vehicle is capable of supporting infantry in battle, when an armored personnel carrier only delivers them to the battlefield. With the disappearance of a clearly defined front line, and this is exactly what is observed in all local conflicts last quarter XX century, an armored personnel carrier and an infantry fighting vehicle now perform the same functions. Modern armored vehicles, regardless of their weight, often carry the same weapons, and serve as a platform for the creation of specialized military equipment - from command post and ambulance vehicles, to self-propelled howitzers and reactive systems volley fire.

In contrast to the controversial and contradictory rating “10 best tanks according to the Military Channel”, the rating “10 best armored vehicles”, in my opinion, is very adequate and generally correct: it contains really worthy vehicles. It would not be out of place to add that you should not take such ratings seriously - after all, this is an infotainment program. Therefore, dear readers, I recommend that you pay attention not so much to the places in the ranking, but to the cars themselves. For example, I myself, not being an expert in the field of armored vehicles, did not suspect the existence of many of them. And yet, this review has a serious conclusion - the review shows the most promising directions for the development of armored vehicles, the right decisions and the mistakes of designers. After all, if the landing party prefers to move ON the armor, and not UNDER the armor, then something is really wrong with the armored vehicles.

The comparison criteria, as always, will be technical excellence, innovative solutions in the creation of this model, manufacturability and mass production and, of course, the main judge - experience in combat use.

Well, that's probably all I wanted to add on my own, this is the end of the prelude, let's move on to the rating. There are many decent cars in the world, but exactly 10 fit into the top ten.

10th place – Marder

Bundeswehr infantry fighting vehicle, combat weight - 33 tons. Year of adoption - 1970. Crew - 3 people + 7 landing troops.
It was created as a response to the Soviet BMP-1. The armament complex includes a 20 mm Rheinmetall-202 automatic cannon and Milan ATGM. Speed ​​(up to 75 km/h on the highway), excellent security, German quality - what else does a good infantry fighting vehicle need? The overall picture is slightly spoiled by the Marder’s lack of combat experience - with the exception of occasional participation in operations in Afghanistan, this armored vehicle almost never traveled beyond the highways of Germany.
In total, the Germans assembled 2,700 of their miracle infantry fighting vehicles, including a self-propelled air defense system based on them. A good car in all respects. Tenth place.

9th place – M1114

American armored vehicle. As you might have guessed from the pictures, this is the legendary Humvee with a set of armor. By the mid-90s, based on the experience of combat use of the M998 chassis, it became clear that the army needed a light armored personnel carrier based on it, which had anti-fragmentation armor and, most importantly, durable mine protection. The M1114 had all these qualities, combining mobility, protection and firepower with a total weight of less than 5 tons. The M1114's range of detachable weapons includes everything from roof-mounted light machine guns, to remote-controlled 12.7mm machine gun mounts, MANPADS and anti-tank missile systems.

From here you should take a short excursion into the Humvee (aka the M998 HMMWV chassis). Adopted by the United States in 1981 as a “highly mobile multi-purpose wheeled vehicle,” the Humvee has become one of the symbols of the American army, appearing in all conflicts of the last 30 years. According to General Motors, 200,000 of all Humvee variants have been produced to date. One of the most important properties of this half-truck, half-jeep was the versatility of the design. Here are just some of the cars based on it:

M998 - open cargo vehicle,
M998 Avenger - variant with anti-aircraft missile system"Stinger"
M966 - armored jeep with anti-tank complex TOW
M1097 - two-seat pickup truck,
M997 - ambulance jeep with a four-seater cabin,
M1026 - version with a fully enclosed four-seater body and a winch,
M1035 - sanitary version with a four-door cabin,
M1114 - light armored personnel carrier, one of the most popular versions of the Humvee

General Motors designers were able to find the optimal balance between carrying capacity, allowing it to perform all the functions of a universal army vehicle, mount a variety of weapons and armor protection, and, at the same time, not overload the vehicle, maintaining the dimensions of a large jeep. The Humvee has become the standard in its class. Now army SUVs in all countries of the world borrow its technical solutions, layout and appearance.

Army equipment a priori cannot be successful in the civilian market in conditions of free competition. This axiom always serves as proof of the justification of exorbitant military expenditures: “If you don’t want to feed your army, you will feed someone else’s,” etc. in the same spirit. In the case of the Hummer, we see the opposite - a stylish army vehicle, retaining the main components (including a 6 liter engine, transmission, suspension), became a successful commercial project - in 1992 its civilian version, the Hummer H1, went into production with minimal cosmetic changes, further developing into the iconic luxury SUV “Hummer H2” with a luxury interior and automatic transmission.
The armored army version of the Humvee M1114 fought a lot around the world, often came under fire, burned, exploded, got stuck in the mud, but nevertheless saved the lives of the soldiers sitting inside. This is what is required from real army equipment.

8th place – The Universal Carrier

The British multi-purpose armored personnel carrier-tractor is the main assistant of the British soldier. An unprepossessing-looking car with a crew of 5 people dashingly moved at speeds of up to 50 km/h across the battlefields of World War II. The Universal Carrier fought on all fronts: from Europe and the Eastern Front to the Sahara and the jungles of Indonesia. Later he managed to take part in the war on the Korean Peninsula and ended his career gloriously in the 1960s.

Weighing only 4 tons, The Universal Carrier had decent maneuverability and was protected by 10 mm armor. The armament of linear armored personnel carriers included a 14 mm anti-tank rifle and/or a 7.7 mm Bren machine gun. In addition to the basic version, the troops received the “Wasp” flamethrower vehicle created on its platform and a self-propelled gun with a 40 mm gun.

In total, over the years of serial production from 1934 to 1960. 113,000 of these small but useful machines were produced at factories in the UK, USA, Australia and Canada.

7th place - Sonderkraftfahrzeug 251

A formidable combat vehicle that crushed the countries of Europe, the sands of North Africa and the icy expanses of Russia with its wheels and tracks.
The SdKfz 251 half-track armored personnel carrier fully complied with the Blitzkrieg strategy - a fast, spacious and well-protected vehicle with high cross-country ability. Crew – 2 people + 10 landing troops, speed on the highway 50 km/h, wheel-tracked propulsion, all-round armor up to 15 mm thick. Like any German technology, the armored personnel carrier was equipped with a huge number of different options and equipment to perform any task. The German engineering genius went wild full force, just appreciate the scale: SdKfz 251 was equipped with a variety of surveillance and communication devices, cranes and winches, radio stations of all types and frequencies, assault bridges, sets of removable armor and a variety of weapons, including even such exotic things as jet systems Wurframen 40 salvo fire 280 mm caliber.
A great variety of specialized vehicles were created on the SdKfz 251 platform: in addition to the basic model, ambulances and command and staff vehicles, surveillance and communications vehicles, mobile telephone exchanges, artillery spotter posts, self-propelled anti-aircraft installations with automatic 20 mm MG 151/20 guns, flamethrowers, mobile firing points with 37 mm and 75 mm anti-tank guns, engineering equipment...
Among these designs were truly unique examples of armored vehicles, such as the Schallaufnahmepanzerwagen - a noise direction finder for determining the position of enemy artillery positions out of sight, or the Infrarotscheinwerfer - a self-propelled infrared searchlight for illuminating the night sights of Panther tanks.
On my own behalf, I can add the following: lovers of revelations and followers of the work of Vladimir Rezun, who meticulously count the number of German armored vehicles, somehow always forget to include in their lists 15,000 SdKfz 251 armored personnel carriers produced by German industry, although these armored vehicles were superior in their capabilities to many tanks of that period .
By the way, the SdKfz 251 armored personnel carrier was so good that it was produced in Czechoslovakia until 1962.

6th place - M1126 “Stryker”

The youngest recruit in the US Army. The Stryker family of wheeled combat vehicles was created specifically for low-intensity conflicts and “colonial wars”, when the use of heavy armored vehicles, Abrams tanks or Bradley infantry fighting vehicles is redundant, and light brigade combat groups are not effective enough. Fighting on the territory of Iraq and Afghanistan confirmed the correctness of this decision.

The basic version of the M1126 became the first wheeled armored vehicle of its class in the American army. Thanks to its exceptional smoothness, the armored personnel carrier received the nickname “Shadow” among the troops. Particular emphasis during the creation of the M1126 was placed on increasing the protective properties of the vehicle. The steel spaced armor is supplemented with MEXAS mounted armor modules weighing 1700 kg. This type of armor contains a ceramic layer adhesively bonded to a layer of high-strength Kevlar fibers. The purpose of the aluminum oxide ceramic layer is to break up the projectile and distribute kinetic energy over a larger base area. In terms of durability, MEXAS, with the same weight as steel armor, is twice as strong. Much attention was paid to mine protection - double bottom of the vehicle, shock absorption, additional armoring of the most vulnerabilities- all this, according to American designers, should reduce the likelihood of damage to the crew of an armored vehicle.
The armored personnel carrier is equipped with a high-tech weapons complex, including a remote-controlled installation with a .50 caliber machine gun and a 40 mm Mark-19 automatic grenade launcher with an ammunition load of 448 grenades. The detection and targeting module includes a night sight and a laser rangefinder.

The 18-ton armored personnel carrier reaches speeds of up to 100 km/h on the highway, and the 8x8 wheel arrangement and tire pressure reduction system provide sufficient maneuverability. A serious drawback for cars of this type is that the Stryker cannot swim.
The Styker family, in addition to the armored personnel carrier, includes
M1127 fighting reconnaissance-de-Gorodal vehicle, M1128 fire support machine with 105 mm gun, 120-mm self-propelled mortar M1129, KSHM M1130, artillery adjustment post M1131, M1132 engineering machine, M1133 armored medical evacuator, M1134 self-propelled anti-tank missile system with TOU-TOUS 2” and the M1135 radiation, chemical and biological reconnaissance vehicle.
"Strikers" have been serving in Iraq since 2003.

5th place - אכזרית‎ (Achzarit)


Heavy tracked armored personnel carrier of the Israel Defense Forces. It is the most protected armored vehicle of its class in the world.
The 200 mm armor of the Soviet tank (believe it or not, the Achzarit is a captured Syrian T-54 and T-55 with the turrets removed) was reinforced with overlay perforated steel sheets with carbon fibers, and a set of dynamic protection was installed on top. Total weight additional armor amounted to 17 tons, which, combined with the low silhouette of the vehicle, made it possible to provide exceptional high level protection of armored personnel carriers.


On the way to the border

The Soviet engine was replaced by a more compact 8-cylinder General Motors diesel engine, which made it possible to equip a corridor along the right side of the tank leading from the troop compartment to the rear armored door. When the stern ramp is folded down, part of the roof is raised hydraulically, making it easier for the troops to dismount. In addition, the partially open aft door is used as an embrasure.
Achzarit is equipped with a remote-controlled machine gun mount OWS (Overhead Weapon Station) from Rafael. Three 7.62 mm machine guns are used as additional weapons: one on the pivot mounting of the commander's hatch and two on the rear hatches.
As a result, the 44-ton monster is an excellent weapon for combat in urban environments, where there may be an RPG launcher in the opening of every window. Achzarit is not afraid of point-blank fire from all weapons in service with Hezbollah and Hamas militants, reliably covering its 10 crew members with its armor.
To be fair, it is worth noting that the most protected armored personnel carrier in the world is still the Namer (weighing more than 50 tons) on the chassis of the Merkava tank, but only a symbolic number of Namers were produced - 60 pieces, unlike the Achzarit, in which 500 T-54/55 tanks were converted.

4th place – BMP-1

An armored infantry vehicle (that's exactly what American experts believe) has significantly increased the offensive power of motorized rifle units. The ingenious concept of the BMP-1 was to increase the mobility and protection of infantry operating in conjunction with tanks. The car was demonstrated to the world community during a parade on Red Square in 1967.
The body of the BMP-1 was welded from armor plates with a thickness of 15...20 mm, according to calculations this was enough to provide all-round protection from bullets fired from a hand-held rifle, and at heading angles it provided protection even from small-caliber gun shells.
The 13-ton combat vehicle reached speeds of up to 65 km/h on the highway and up to 7 km/h afloat (to increase buoyancy, even the track rollers were made hollow). Inside there were 3 crew members and 8 paratroopers. The weapon system consisted of a 73 mm 2A28 Grom smoothbore grenade launcher, a PKT machine gun and a 9M14M Malyutka anti-tank missile system. Separate embrasures were equipped for the paratroopers sitting inside. All this, in theory, turned the BMP-1 into a new generation universal vehicle.

Alas, everything turned out to be more complicated. The Americans strictly criticized the decisions of Soviet designers, especially the design of the rear doors of the troop compartment (indeed, very dubious): “Perhaps this is thick armor that reliably protects the crew of the vehicle? No! These are fuel tanks! If the vehicle was hit, this arrangement turned the infantry fighting vehicle into a fire trap.
Based on the results of the battles in the Middle East and Afghanistan, it quickly became clear that the designers had saved money on armor in vain - the BMP was confidently hit by the DShK machine gun. Low protection from mines, small arms and grenade launchers has led to the fact that soldiers prefer to move while sitting on armor, not daring to go down into fighting compartment cars. The shortcomings of the weapons also made themselves felt - in mountainous areas, the "Thunder" turned out to be useless due to its low elevation angle.


Those same tanks in the aft hatches

Soviet designers made an attempt to correct errors in the next generation car. The new BMP-2 received an automatic 30 mm cannon with an elevation angle of 85 degrees. The next model, BMP-3, despite loud calls from the military to increase security, was the apotheosis of absurdity: having almost tank weapons, it still has "cardboard" armor.
And yet it is worth paying tribute to the Soviet designers. The infantry fighting vehicle has become a fundamentally new class of armored vehicles. Despite its innovation, the BMP-1 has survived more than a dozen military conflicts around the world. In addition, it was cheap and widespread: a total of 20,000 vehicles of this type were produced.

3rd place – MCV-80 “Warrior”

British infantry fighting vehicle. There's more to her name than just "Warrior." Combat weight - 25 tons. Speed ​​on the highway is 75 km/h. The armored body of the MCV-80 is welded from rolled sheets of aluminum-magnesium-zinc alloy and protects from 14.5 mm bullets and from fragments of 155 mm high-explosive fragmentation shells, and the bottom - from 9 kg of anti-tank mines. The sides and chassis are covered with rubber anti-cumulative screens. The Warrior's armored hull has an internal lining that protects the crew from armor fragments and also serves as sound insulation. The space between the backs of the landing seats and the sides of the hull is used for stowing spare parts and equipment of the infantrymen, which creates additional protection for the troop compartment. Externally, the armor is reinforced with dynamic protection. Armament: 30 mm L21A1 “Rarden” automatic cannon, coaxial machine gun, 94 mm LAW-80 grenade launcher. The crew of the car is 3 people. Landing party - 7 people.

The British command had high hopes for their promising infantry fighting vehicle. And the “Warrior” did not let its creators down - of the 300 vehicles that took part in “Desert Storm,” not a single one was lost in battle. A noteworthy incident occurred in Al-Amar (Iraq) on May 1, 2004: a Warrior patrol vehicle was hit by 14 RPG grenades. Hard damaged car managed to fight back and came out from under the fire under her own power, saving the lives of the soldiers inside (the entire crew was burned and injured). The commander of the BMP Johnson, Gideon Beeharry, was awarded the Victoria Cross.

In 2011, the UK government allocated 1.6 billion pounds for the modernization of the MCV-80 under the WCSP program. In particular, it is reported that the BMP will receive new complex weapons with a 40 mm automatic gun.
This is the MCV-80 “Warrior” - a machine that soldiers trust.

2nd place – M2 “Bradley”

American infantry fighting vehicle. Combat weight - 30 tons. Speed ​​– 65 km/h on the highway, 7 km/h afloat. Crew – 3 people. Landing party - 6 people.
Multi-layer armor made of steel and aluminum with a thickness of 50 mm provides all-round protection against small-caliber artillery shells. The mounted dynamic protection system serves as a reliable barrier to RPG rocket-propelled grenades. The case has a Kevlar lining on the inside, which prevents the formation of fragments. On the latest modifications, 30 mm steel screens are additionally mounted on the sides.
Armament: 25 mm M242 Bushmaster automatic cannon with a computerized fire control system, TOW ATGM and 6 M231 FPW machine guns. The armored vehicle's equipment includes such frills as the TACNAV tactical navigation system, ELRF laser range finder, infrared passive protection system against ATGMs and an MRE (Meal, Ready-to-Eat) food ration warmer.
At the time of its appearance, in 1981, the US military doubted the combat qualities of the new infantry fighting vehicle. But in 1991, during Desert Storm, all doubts were dispelled: Bradleys, using shells with depleted uranium cores, destroyed more Iraqi tanks than M1 Abrams main battle tanks. And only 1 infantry fighting vehicle was lost from enemy fire.
The well-deserved combat vehicle has become one of the most popular infantry fighting vehicles in the world - a total of 7,000 M2 Bradleys were produced. Its base also produces the M3 combat reconnaissance vehicle, the M6 ​​self-propelled air defense system and the M270 MLRS launcher for MLRS and tactical missiles.

1st place – M113


M113 of the Lithuanian Armed Forces on parade in Kaunas

Floating tracked vehicle weighing 11 tons. All-round protection is provided by 40 mm aluminum armor. Excellent capacity - 2 crew members and 11 paratroopers. Standard weapons - heavy machine gun M2. Fast (highway speed up to 64 km/h), passable and easy to maintain, the vehicle has become the most famous armored personnel carrier in the world. 85,000 M113 of all modifications were in service in 50 countries. The M113 has seen through every conflict from the Vietnam War to the 2003 Invasion of Iraq and, as of today, is still in production and is the primary armored personnel carrier of the US Army.
In addition to the armored personnel carrier, the M113 existed in the form of a command and staff vehicle, a self-propelled 107 mm mortar, and an anti-aircraft self-propelled gun(were armed with everything from the six-barreled Vulcan to the Chapperal air defense system), a repair and recovery vehicle, an ambulance, a tank destroyer with a TOW ATGM, a radiation and chemical reconnaissance vehicle and launcher MLRS.

Again, most wheeled armored vehicles are modified chassis of serial all-wheel drive SUVs and army trucks, the bodies for which are assembled by specialized companies. The most respectable armored cars are produced by large military-industrial companies, using a special chassis and automotive components.

Most of these vehicles are equipped with powerful diesel engines that comply with Euro-3 to Euro-6 standards, automatic transmissions, independent suspensions and numerous electronic systems for controlling chassis units, weapons, communications, navigation and orientation. Special attention attention is paid to the strength of armored hulls that protect the crew and vital organs of the vehicles. Typically these are durable steel welded structures with inclined panels and powerful bottom armor. The most effective is the spatial V-shaped MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected) system, which reflects the explosion energy of infantry and even anti-tank mines laid on the road.

Armored vehicles of automobile companies

Loyal suppliers of wheeled armored vehicles are large automobile corporations and factories, which use their own serial chassis and specially designed variants for this purpose, but for all companies these products have always occupied a secondary place.

Daimler AG

In the program of this corporation, there was a place only for light armored cars of Mercedes-Benz, built on the chassis of G-series SUVs, the famous Gelendvagens. This year, the company limited itself to showing one LAPV 6.1 armored vehicle with a V6 engine with a power of 184 hp. With. and portal axles providing ground clearance of 412 mm.

Light five-door armored vehicle Mercedes-Benz LAPV 6.1 on the G300CDI chassis

IVECO

Until recently, the main light armored vehicle in the IVECO Defense Vehicles program was the 190-horsepower LMV model in several versions with different add-ons. This year it was represented by a turret version with a heavy machine gun and the Hitrole multi-purpose reconnaissance system.

At Eurosatory-2016, the modernized LMV-2 armored vehicle appeared for the first time on an extended chassis with a more powerful 220-horsepower engine, a reinforced roof for heavy weapons and a payload increased by 40% - up to 1.5 tons, of which, according to the company, 500 kg accounts for electronic equipment.


Renault

This brand hides the military products of the Renault Trucks Defense division, which includes small companies ASMAT, Panhard and the American Mack. The latter's participation consists only in the supply of French military equipment under its own brand to distant markets.

At Eurosatory-2016, the ASMAT company, specializing in simple machines for African countries, at the test site presented the capabilities of its Bastion armored personnel carrier with a 340-horsepower engine and MRAP mine protection.


A new product from the Panhard department was the compact Dagger armored vehicle with a 200 hp power unit. With. and a high hull for transporting six paratroopers, replacing the previous 160-horsepower PVP version.



Demonstration of a six-seat Panhard Dagger armored vehicle without weapons

The Renault brand is carried by the main range of military equipment of the Renault Trucks Defense company. It is headed by the most extensive family of multifunctional Sherpa machines, which cannot be discussed in a short review, but is worth devoting to them in a separate article. In addition to them, the company assembles several more original Renault armored vehicles.

At the current show, as a new item, there was a floating armored personnel carrier VAB-3 (6x6) with MRAP protection, which differs from its predecessor VAB in having an increased payload of up to four tons, reinforced armor and a body lengthened by 700 mm for the installation of powerful weapons. The car uses a six-cylinder diesel engine with a capacity of 320–340 hp. p., six-position automatic transmission and independent suspension.



A prototype of the Griffon armored personnel carrier (6x6) with an MRAP system and an original modular front part of the hull, made in the style of a “predatory” design with pointed edges, created a sensation at the Renault stand. The vehicle, with a combat weight of 24.5 tons, is equipped with a 400-horsepower Volvo diesel engine, a modular combat superstructure with a cannon and grenade launchers located around the circumference.



A prototype of the promising eight-seat Griffon armored personnel carrier

MZKT

The Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant (MZKT) brought its MZKT-490100 (4x4) armored vehicle to France on a special chassis with a YaMZ-5345-10 engine with a power of 240 hp. s., automatic six-position gearbox, independent spring suspension and five-door armored body. Its combat weight is 11 tons, maximum speed is 105 km/h.



Driver's workplace of the MZKT-490100 Volat combat vehicle

Armored vehicles of military-industrial companies

KMW

On the open area of ​​the pavilion of the military-industrial company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW), called Leopard’s Home (House of the Leopard tank), an armored personnel carrier Dingo-2HD with an updated design, created on a 306-horsepower special chassis FGA-14.5, appeared. A hull with an MRAP system is mounted on it, assembled from special types of armor steel and composite materials and withstanding the explosion of an infantry or anti-tank mine.


General Dynamics

As part of the creation of the two-axle Eagle-V armored vehicle, the European branch of the American group General Dynamics, created on the site of the former MOWAG company, presented a three-axle version of the Eagle-V (6x6) with a combat weight of 15 tons with a 285-horsepower Cummins engine and a spacious multi-purpose armored hull. Its maximum speed is 110 km/h.


Street

The most dynamic and progressive transnational company Streit Group assembles its various wheeled armored vehicles at 12 enterprises in different countries and claims to be the leading corporation in this field. At Eurosatory-2016, she brought almost the entire range of armored vehicles, which never cease to amaze visitors with their extravagant appearance. They are based on serial or special chassis and are equipped with diesel engines, automatic or manual transmissions, reinforced underbody armor or MRAP protection.

One of the smallest representatives of this family is the Cobra light high-speed armored vehicle for performing tactical or special operations. It is built on a 232-horsepower Toyota SUV chassis, weighs about 6 tons and reaches a speed of 140 km/h.


Compact armored vehicle Streit Cobra LAMV with a three-door body

The Gladiator heavy armored vehicle with a massive five-door body is based on a Renault Midlum truck (4x4) with a 276-horsepower engine and is equipped with a ZF six-speed manual gearbox, all disc brakes and leaf spring suspension. With a combat weight of 13 tons, it reaches a speed of 120 km/h.



The Scorpion combat vehicle on a special chassis is equipped with a Cummins diesel engine with a capacity of 300 hp. with., a welded hull with a capacity of up to eight people with an MRAP mine protection system and independent spring suspension on all wheels. With the same mass of 13 tons, its maximum speed was reduced to 105 km/h.


At Streit's extensive stand, for the first time, a 400-horsepower Alligator armored personnel carrier (6x6) of an original configuration was demonstrated on a special chassis with two closely spaced front pairs of steered wheels and a single rear axle. A brochure with its description could be obtained from the booth attendants, but it would not be possible to show you an image of the car: the company’s employees surrounded it with flags and forbade taking photographs.

Armored vehicles of small specialized companies

Achleitner

At Eurosatory-2016, this Austrian company showed a modernized patrol and reconnaissance armored vehicle Survivor-1 with a total weight of up to 12.5 tons with a turret machine gun mount, a durable flat bottom and an automatic tire inflation system. Depending on the load, at the buyer’s choice, engines with a power of 245 or 285 hp are mounted on it. With. The heavy 18-ton version of Survivor-2 is designed to use power units of 280–330 hp. With. and installation of more powerful weapons.



IAG

At the stand of the transnational company International Armored Group (IAG), they demonstrated a new Guardian armored personnel carrier for transporting 10 soldiers and mounting weapons on the reinforced roof of the armored hull. Buyers have a choice of several types of power units - diesel V8 and one petrol V10.


The IAG exposition also included an eight-seat Jaws patrol vehicle, based on a 232-horsepower Toyota SUV, and a similar Sentry armored personnel carrier with a welded hull and a fully rotating turret.




Light armored personnel carrier Sentry with an eight-seat armored hull and a turret superstructure

Nexter

This multifunctional company gained fame in the automotive industry by releasing the successful Aravis armored vehicle on the Unimog U5000 chassis, which was present at Eurosatory 2016 in a version for UN troops. At different ends of the showroom, new original Titus armored personnel carriers (6x6) were presented in army and police versions, created on a special Tatra chassis with Cummins engines with a power of 440 and 500 hp. With. and a folding rear door with hydraulic drive.

The highlight of this design lies in three pairs of wheels evenly spaced from each other, of which the front and rear are steerable, which made it possible to reduce the turning radius to 13 m. On the highway, the car reaches 110 km/h.



SVOS

The largest armored personnel carrier at the show, Vega (6x6), was shown by the Czech company SVOS. It is assembled on the units of a 408-horsepower Tatra T815-7 car with an automated 14-speed electronically controlled transmission. His main feature is an independent adjustable hydropneumatic suspension of single wheels with final drives and tire inflation. The combat weight of the vehicle is 29 tons, the maximum speed is 110 km/h.


A previously unknown manufacturer of armored vehicles, the Cypriot company Lacenaire from Nicosia, appeared at the show for the first time. She presented two armored vehicles of the Oncilla brand - a multi-purpose one with a machine gun turret and one with a folding assault ladder on the roof. They are equipped with Deutz or IVECO diesel engines with a capacity of 190 and 210 hp. With. and automatic transmissions. With a mass of 8.8 tons, their speed reaches 120 km/h. And one more piquant detail: they are assembled by one of the Polish military factories.


Cypriot nine-seater armored vehicle Lacenaire Oncilla with a turret module

At Eurosatury 2016, the small French company Soframe, the Israeli Plasan and a number of Ukrainian enterprises also demonstrated their small-scale assembled wheeled armored vehicles. The Turkish Navy and Otokar companies presented updated serial armored vehicles.

In conclusion - a scene in the press center at Eurosatory-2016. An English-speaking group, convinced that there could be no Russians around, discussed the current relationship with Russia. And suddenly one of them jumped up and shouted: “What are you talking about? They have a huge army and crazy soldiers... They will still win.”

America loves Ukrainian gunsmiths. Many years ago, during the time of President Yushchenko, the United States financed Iraq’s purchase of half a thousand BTR-4 armored personnel carriers produced by the Malyshev Design Bureau. The funny thing about the deal was that at the time the contract was concluded, such an armored personnel carrier simply did not exist. However, the Americans did not act disinterestedly - scandals involving hundred-million-dollar bribes and kickbacks have been raging for two years now.

BTR-4 on the territory of the plant First acquaintance with the Iraqis.


Kharkov designers did the impossible in as soon as possible embodied their achievements in metal. Pilot production quickly began riveting BTR-4s and sending them to Iraq. But a miracle did not happen - the project, which was not tested and completed, constantly “glitched”, the units did not dock, the gun did not want to fire at all where it was supposed to. One small consolation is that the gun block was not made in Kharkov.

The photo shows an unprofitable product from the Kitezhgrad Magnetic Equipment Plant (just kidding).
But it’s really unprofitable -
fines, penalties and bribes paid ate up profits. One consolation was that there was money to pay salaries from.

For the New Year 2014, the Ukrainian defense industry received an unexpected gift. True virtual. A much more material one will arrive at the port of Odessa a little later - on January 5th. But first things first.

BTR-4, produced at the State Enterprise “Plant named after V.A. Malyshev” entered the top ten in the world, reports the information and analytical portal Inpress.ua. The local press is delighted - “Ukrainian weapons and military equipment enjoy an excellent reputation due to their reliability and simplicity.”

And all because the BTR-4 was included in the top ten best armored personnel carriers in the world according to Army Technology. This was reported by the press service of the State Concern "Ukrspetsexport". According to the report, the BTR-4 entered the top ten in terms of protection, firepower and mobility.

In addition to it, the top ten included the Finnish Patria, the German Boxer, the Swiss Piranha V, the Austrian Pandur II, the Russian BTR-82A, the American Stryker, the Turkish ARMA and AV8, and the Singaporean Terrex (developed by the Irish company Timoney).

One involuntarily recalls a message in the Great Concordia press about the loss of its rider in an amateur race with an earthly university: “Our rider turned out to be worthy of his great ancestors and showed an excellent result for the first time, taking second place. His earthly rival was able to come second to last.”

Not a single word of lie. An excellent description of a competition involving two sides.

So it is with the Ukrainian BTR-4. While the press is drooling, ship "Sea Pacifica" carrying 42 Ukrainian BTR-4s rejected by Iraq, is heading back to Odessa. This was announced by a representative of the Odessa carrier company Varamar, managing director of the company Alexander Varvarenko. Prior to this, Kharkov armored personnel carriers that left the port of Odessa in March of this year were arrested in India along with the ship. It all started with the fact that on April 26, a dry cargo ship docked off the coast of Iraq, but it was never allowed into the port and Ukrainian armored personnel carriers refused to unload it.

“In the port of Odessa, the vehicles were accepted by a commission that included representatives of Iraq. But in Iraq, unloading did not begin. The excuse was defects in the body. Long days of negotiations resulted in three months of downtime in the Persian Gulf. The ship was never unloaded, and it went to the shores of India to unload a shipment of Ukrainian metal,” said Alexander Varvarenko. He forgot to clarify that the contract had already expired, and the Ukrainian side had not met the delivery schedule even once. I also forgot about the fines I had paid earlier.

Then the Indians filed claims against the company, to whom the goods, about 70 thousand tons of metal, were almost three months late.

“Ukrainian military cargo has become a hostage. An Indian court arrested the ship, and they demanded a penalty of 500 thousand dollars from us. The metal supplier told us to resolve the issues, but how can we do this? We were delayed only because the issue with armored personnel carriers was being resolved,” Varvarenko said.

According to the Vesti publication, Varamar still had to cover the damage, and the Ukrainian company Ukrspetsexport owed it about 700 thousand dollars; the carrier intends to demand compensation for this amount in court.

As for the armored personnel carriers themselves, they should arrive in Odessa in early January: the ship has now entered the Red Sea and is heading towards the Suez Canal.

REFERENCE: The contract between Ukrspetsexport and Iraq was concluded back in 2008. Then the deal was called the largest in the history of independent Ukraine (except for armored personnel carriers, it was planned to produce tanks and aircraft at total amount$2.4 billion). The lion's share of the contract was intended for the Kharkov Malyshev plant - 450 BTR-4 units. Only 100 pieces were shipped to the customer.

Well, for the really picky ones, the magazine didn’t hold any competitions or evaluations. Moreover, according to the specified characteristics. He simply listed " some of the finest armored personnel carriers in service today." Without comparing them or positioning them as better or worse /Modern APCs such as Patria AMV, Boxer and Piranha V offer enhanced protection, enabling safer infantry deployment in high-threat areas. Army-technology.com lists some of the best armored personnel carriers operated today, based on protection and mobility/.

Below are some examples of delight from the local press and bureaucrats:

As Inpress.ua previously reported, the positive indicators of the final activities of the enterprises of the State Concern “Ukroboronprom” indicate the effectiveness of its work, including in international markets. This was stated by First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Economic Policy Sergei Kaltsev.

Based on the results of work for the nine months of 2013, enterprises that are part of the Ukroboronprom State Corporation showed an increase in the volume of products (industrial production) by 35% compared to the same period in 2012.

The Ukrainian military-industrial complex is experiencing rapid development. Many foreign countries are interested in samples of Ukrainian military-defense equipment. Our state also actively presents its achievements at international exhibitions and cooperates with many countries in the development of new types of military equipment.

Thus, the domestic military industry cooperates most closely with Thailand, to which the Kharkov plant plans to send a series of tanks. Fire and sea trials of five Oplots are being carried out at the training ground in Chuguev (Kharkiv region). By the new year, the combat vehicles will be sent to their new homeland, but in the meantime, 32 Thai military personnel are being trained at the Morozov Design Bureau, who will have to work with new equipment at home.

In general, Ukrainian manufacturers of military equipment liked working in the Asian market. By arming Thailand with armored personnel carriers, domestic enterprises will supply India with military aircraft missiles. State Holding Company "Artem" has secured the delivery to India of the first batch of medium-range air-to-air guided missiles, manufactured by order of the local Ministry of Defense.

In addition, the state concern “Ukroboronprom” and the Czech ALTA have outlined plans for cooperation in the technical re-equipment program of the state concern’s enterprises.

Due to the fact that large-scale armed unrest is taking place in the world, Ukraine has the opportunity to increase the share of its military exports. The unstable Middle East finds a profitable partner in our country. Soviet weapons familiar to Arabs are cheaper than Western analogues, high quality and therefore most in demand.

In general, beneficial partners in cooperation in the defense industry for Ukraine are Russia, the countries of Southeast Asia, Africa, the Middle East and South America. This was stated by Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Committee on National Security and Defense Anatoly Kinakh.

Thus, Ukraine will be able to provide both its army and the world market with new types of weapons and military equipment. This opinion was expressed by Yulia Malyshenko, Deputy Head of the Defense and Security Economics Department of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade.

Unloading an armored personnel carrier BTR-4 in Iraq, spring 2012 (c) UkrMil.blogspot.com via militaryphotos.net

REFERENCE. Ukraine won the contract for the supply of 49 Oplot tanks to Thailand at the end of 2009, back under Yushchenko. Since then, all that has been reported is the unprecedented victory of the Kharkov tank builders. Over the past 4 years, Thailand has not received a single tank. Just as the plant producing tanks does not receive any real profit. All dividends are collected by officials who joyfully tell how well things are going.

BTR-4 is an armored personnel carrier developed by the State Enterprise "Kharkov Mechanical Engineering Design Bureau named after Morozov." The BTR-4 has been adopted by the Armed Forces of Ukraine and is mass-produced at the State Enterprise “Plant named after V.A. Malysheva." State Enterprise "Zhytomyr Armored Plant", which is part of the State Corporation "Ukroboronprom", is engaged in the development of the production of new combat module on BTR-4.

Continuing the “Top 10” rating from the Discovery Channel, I would like to draw your attention to another funny selection. This time, the experts came to the attention of “Armored Personal Carriers” - a general designation for all types of armored vehicles intended for transporting personnel. The review included both light armored personnel carriers weighing 5 tons and heavy infantry fighting vehicles. Despite the seeming absurdity, this is quite logical - all this equipment, tracked or wheeled, regardless of its size, performs the same task - transporting people and cargo in military conflicts, protecting them with its armor. For example, there are no strict differences, for example, between an armored personnel carrier and an infantry fighting vehicle. The only thing that distinguished them in theory was that an infantry fighting vehicle is capable of supporting infantry in battle, when an armored personnel carrier only delivers them to the battlefield. With the disappearance of a clearly defined front line, and this is precisely what is observed in all local conflicts of the last quarter of the twentieth century, the armored personnel carrier and the infantry fighting vehicle now perform the same functions. Modern armored vehicles, regardless of their weight, often carry the same weapons and serve as a platform for the creation of specialized military equipment - from command post and ambulance vehicles, to self-propelled howitzers and multiple launch rocket systems.

In contrast to the controversial and contradictory rating “10 best tanks according to the Military Channel”, the rating “10 best armored vehicles”, in my opinion, is very adequate and generally correct: it contains really worthy vehicles. It would not be out of place to add that you should not take such ratings seriously - after all, this is an infotainment program. Therefore, dear readers, I recommend that you pay attention not so much to the places in the ranking, but to the cars themselves. For example, I myself, not being an expert in the field of armored vehicles, did not suspect the existence of many of them. And yet, this review has a serious conclusion - the review shows the most promising directions for the development of armored vehicles, the right decisions and the mistakes of designers. After all, if the landing party prefers to move ON the armor, and not UNDER the armor, then something is really wrong with the armored vehicles.

The comparison criteria, as always, will be technical excellence, innovative solutions in the creation of this model, manufacturability and mass production and, of course, the main judge - experience in combat use.

Well, that's probably all I wanted to add on my own, this is the end of the prelude, let's move on to the rating. There are many decent cars in the world, but exactly 10 fit into the top ten.

10th place – Marder

Bundeswehr infantry fighting vehicle, combat weight - 33 tons. Year of adoption - 1970. Crew - 3 people + 7 landing troops.
It was created as a response to the Soviet BMP-1. The armament complex includes a 20 mm Rheinmetall-202 automatic cannon and Milan ATGM. Speed ​​(up to 75 km/h on the highway), excellent security, German quality - what else does a good infantry fighting vehicle need? The overall picture is slightly spoiled by the Marder’s lack of combat experience - with the exception of occasional participation in operations in Afghanistan, this armored vehicle almost never traveled beyond the highways of Germany.
In total, the Germans assembled 2,700 of their miracle infantry fighting vehicles, including a self-propelled air defense system based on them. A good car in all respects. Tenth place.

9th place – M1114

American armored vehicle. As you might have guessed from the pictures, this is the legendary Humvee with a set of armor. By the mid-90s, based on the experience of combat use of the M998 chassis, it became clear that the army needed a light armored personnel carrier based on it, which had anti-fragmentation armor and, most importantly, durable mine protection. The M1114 had all these qualities, combining mobility, protection and firepower with a total weight of less than 5 tons. The M1114's range of detachable weapons includes everything from roof-mounted light machine guns, to remote-controlled 12.7mm machine gun mounts, MANPADS and anti-tank missile systems.

From here you should take a short excursion into the Humvee (aka the M998 HMMWV chassis). Adopted by the United States in 1981 as a “highly mobile multi-purpose wheeled vehicle,” the Humvee has become one of the symbols of the American army, appearing in all conflicts of the last 30 years. According to General Motors, 200,000 of all Humvee variants have been produced to date. One of the most important properties of this half-truck, half-jeep was the versatility of the design. Here are just some of the cars based on it:

M998 - open cargo vehicle,
M998 Avenger - variant with the Stinger anti-aircraft missile system,
M966 - armored jeep with TOW anti-tank system,
M1097 - two-seat pickup truck,
M997 - ambulance jeep with a four-seater cabin,
M1026 - version with a fully enclosed four-seater body and a winch,
M1035 - sanitary version with a four-door cabin,
M1114 - light armored personnel carrier, one of the most popular versions of the Humvee

General Motors designers were able to find the optimal balance between carrying capacity, allowing it to perform all the functions of a universal army vehicle, mount a variety of weapons and armor protection, and, at the same time, not overload the vehicle, maintaining the dimensions of a large jeep. The Humvee has become the standard in its class. Now army SUVs in all countries of the world borrow its technical solutions, layout and appearance.

Army equipment a priori cannot be successful in the civilian market in conditions of free competition. This axiom always serves as proof of the justification of exorbitant military expenditures: “If you don’t want to feed your army, you will feed someone else’s,” etc. in the same spirit. In the case of the Hummer, we see the opposite - a stylish army vehicle, retaining the main components (including a 6 liter engine, transmission, suspension), became a successful commercial project - in 1992 its civilian version, the Hummer H1, went into production with minimal cosmetic changes, further developing into the iconic luxury SUV “Hummer H2” with a luxury interior and automatic transmission.
The armored army version of the Humvee M1114 fought a lot around the world, often came under fire, burned, exploded, got stuck in the mud, but nevertheless saved the lives of the soldiers sitting inside. This is what is required from real army equipment.

8th place – The Universal Carrier

The British multi-purpose armored personnel carrier-tractor is the main assistant of the British soldier. An unprepossessing-looking car with a crew of 5 people dashingly moved at speeds of up to 50 km/h across the battlefields of World War II. The Universal Carrier fought on all fronts: from Europe and the Eastern Front to the Sahara and the jungles of Indonesia. Later he managed to take part in the war on the Korean Peninsula and ended his career gloriously in the 1960s.

Weighing only 4 tons, The Universal Carrier had decent maneuverability and was protected by 10 mm armor. The armament of linear armored personnel carriers included a 14 mm anti-tank rifle and/or a 7.7 mm Bren machine gun. In addition to the basic version, the troops received the “Wasp” flamethrower vehicle created on its platform and a self-propelled gun with a 40 mm gun.

In total, over the years of serial production from 1934 to 1960. 113,000 of these small but useful machines were produced at factories in the UK, USA, Australia and Canada.

7th place - Sonderkraftfahrzeug 251

A formidable combat vehicle that crushed the countries of Europe, the sands of North Africa and the icy expanses of Russia with its wheels and tracks.
The SdKfz 251 half-track armored personnel carrier fully complied with the Blitzkrieg strategy - a fast, spacious and well-protected vehicle with high maneuverability. Crew – 2 people + 10 landing troops, speed on the highway 50 km/h, wheel-tracked propulsion, all-round armor up to 15 mm thick. Like any German equipment, the armored personnel carrier was equipped with a huge number of different options and equipment to perform any task. The German engineering genius went into full force, just appreciate the scale: SdKfz 251 was equipped with a variety of surveillance and communication devices, cranes and winches, radio stations of all types and frequencies, assault bridges, sets of removable armor and a variety of weapons, among which there was even such exotic as jet multiple launch rocket systems Wurframen 40 caliber 280 mm.
A great variety of specialized vehicles were created on the SdKfz 251 platform: in addition to the basic model, ambulances and command and staff vehicles, surveillance and communications vehicles, mobile telephone exchanges, artillery spotter posts, self-propelled anti-aircraft guns with automatic 20 mm MG 151/20 guns, and flamethrower vehicles were produced. , mobile firing points with 37 mm and 75 mm anti-tank guns, engineering equipment...
Among these designs were truly unique examples of armored vehicles, such as the Schallaufnahmepanzerwagen - a noise direction finder for determining the position of enemy artillery positions out of sight, or the Infrarotscheinwerfer - a self-propelled infrared searchlight for illuminating the night sights of Panther tanks.
On my own behalf, I can add the following: lovers of revelations and followers of the work of Vladimir Rezun, who meticulously count the number of German armored vehicles, somehow always forget to include in their lists 15,000 SdKfz 251 armored personnel carriers produced by German industry, although these armored vehicles were superior in their capabilities to many tanks of that period .
By the way, the SdKfz 251 armored personnel carrier was so good that it was produced in Czechoslovakia until 1962.

6th place - M1126 “Stryker”

The youngest recruit in the US Army. The Stryker family of wheeled combat vehicles was created specifically for low-intensity conflicts and “colonial wars”, when the use of heavy armored vehicles, Abrams tanks or Bradley infantry fighting vehicles is redundant, and light brigade combat groups are not effective enough. The fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan confirmed the correctness of this decision.

The basic version of the M1126 became the first wheeled armored vehicle of its class in the American army. Thanks to its exceptional smoothness, the armored personnel carrier received the nickname “Shadow” among the troops. Particular emphasis during the creation of the M1126 was placed on increasing the protective properties of the vehicle. The steel spaced armor is supplemented with MEXAS mounted armor modules weighing 1700 kg. This type of armor contains a ceramic layer adhesively bonded to a layer of high-strength Kevlar fibers. The purpose of the aluminum oxide ceramic layer is to break up the projectile and distribute kinetic energy over a larger base area. In terms of durability, MEXAS, with the same weight as steel armor, is twice as strong. Much attention was paid to mine protection - the double bottom of the vehicle, shock absorption, additional armoring of the most vulnerable places - all this, according to American designers, should reduce the likelihood of damage to the crew of the armored vehicle.
The armored personnel carrier is equipped with a high-tech weapons complex, including a remote-controlled installation with a .50 caliber machine gun and a 40 mm Mark-19 automatic grenade launcher with an ammunition load of 448 grenades. The detection and targeting module includes a night sight and a laser rangefinder.

The 18-ton armored personnel carrier reaches speeds of up to 100 km/h on the highway, and the 8x8 wheel arrangement and tire pressure reduction system provide sufficient maneuverability. A serious drawback for cars of this type is that the Stryker cannot swim.
The Styker family, in addition to the armored personnel carrier, includes
M1127 fighting reconnaissance-de-Gorodal vehicle, M1128 fire support machine with 105 mm gun, 120-mm self-propelled mortar M1129, KSHM M1130, artillery adjustment post M1131, M1132 engineering machine, M1133 armored medical evacuator, M1134 self-propelled anti-tank missile system with TOU-TOUS 2” and the M1135 radiation, chemical and biological reconnaissance vehicle.
"Strikers" have been serving in Iraq since 2003.

5th place - אכזרית‎ (Achzarit)


Heavy tracked armored personnel carrier of the Israel Defense Forces. It is the most protected armored vehicle of its class in the world.
The 200 mm armor of the Soviet tank (believe it or not, the Achzarit is a captured Syrian T-54 and T-55 with the turrets removed) was reinforced with overlay perforated steel sheets with carbon fibers, and a set of dynamic protection was installed on top. The total weight of the additional armor was 17 tons, which, combined with the low silhouette of the vehicle, made it possible to provide an exceptionally high level of protection for the armored personnel carrier.


On the way to the border

The Soviet engine was replaced by a more compact 8-cylinder General Motors diesel engine, which made it possible to equip a corridor along the right side of the tank leading from the troop compartment to the rear armored door. When the stern ramp is folded down, part of the roof is raised hydraulically, making it easier for the troops to dismount. In addition, the partially open aft door is used as an embrasure.
Achzarit is equipped with a remote-controlled machine gun mount OWS (Overhead Weapon Station) from Rafael. Three 7.62 mm machine guns are used as additional weapons: one on the pivot mounting of the commander's hatch and two on the rear hatches.
As a result, the 44-ton monster is an excellent weapon for combat in urban environments, where there may be an RPG launcher in the opening of every window. Achzarit is not afraid of point-blank fire from all weapons in service with Hezbollah and Hamas militants, reliably covering its 10 crew members with its armor.
To be fair, it is worth noting that the most protected armored personnel carrier in the world is still the Namer (weighing more than 50 tons) on the chassis of the Merkava tank, but only a symbolic number of Namers were produced - 60 pieces, unlike the Achzarit, in which 500 T-54/55 tanks were converted.

4th place – BMP-1

An armored infantry vehicle (that's exactly what American experts believe) has significantly increased the offensive power of motorized rifle units. The ingenious concept of the BMP-1 was to increase the mobility and protection of infantry operating in conjunction with tanks. The car was demonstrated to the world community during a parade on Red Square in 1967.
The body of the BMP-1 was welded from armor plates with a thickness of 15...20 mm, according to calculations this was enough to provide all-round protection from bullets fired from a hand-held rifle, and at heading angles it provided protection even from small-caliber gun shells.
The 13-ton combat vehicle reached speeds of up to 65 km/h on the highway and up to 7 km/h afloat (to increase buoyancy, even the track rollers were made hollow). Inside there were 3 crew members and 8 paratroopers. The weapon system consisted of a 73 mm 2A28 Grom smoothbore grenade launcher, a PKT machine gun and a 9M14M Malyutka anti-tank missile system. Separate embrasures were equipped for the paratroopers sitting inside. All this, in theory, turned the BMP-1 into a new generation universal vehicle.

Alas, everything turned out to be more complicated. The Americans strictly criticized the decisions of Soviet designers, especially the design of the rear doors of the troop compartment (indeed, very dubious): “Perhaps this is thick armor that reliably protects the crew of the vehicle? No! These are fuel tanks! If the vehicle was hit, this arrangement turned the infantry fighting vehicle into a fire trap.
Based on the results of the battles in the Middle East and Afghanistan, it quickly became clear that the designers had saved money on armor in vain - the BMP was confidently hit by the DShK machine gun. Low protection from mines, small arms and grenade launchers has led to the fact that soldiers prefer to move while sitting on armor, not daring to go down into the fighting compartment of the vehicle. The shortcomings of the weapons also made themselves felt - in mountainous areas, the "Thunder" turned out to be useless due to its low elevation angle.


Those same tanks in the aft hatches

Soviet designers made an attempt to correct errors in the next generation car. The new BMP-2 received an automatic 30 mm cannon with an elevation angle of 85 degrees. The next model, the BMP-3, despite loud calls from the military to increase its protection, was the apotheosis of absurdity: while possessing almost tank-like weapons, it still has “cardboard” armor.
And yet it is worth paying tribute to the Soviet designers. The infantry fighting vehicle has become a fundamentally new class of armored vehicles. Despite its innovation, the BMP-1 has survived more than a dozen military conflicts around the world. In addition, it was cheap and widespread: a total of 20,000 vehicles of this type were produced.

3rd place – MCV-80 “Warrior”

British infantry fighting vehicle. There's more to her name than just "Warrior." Combat weight - 25 tons. Speed ​​on the highway is 75 km/h. The armored body of the MCV-80 is welded from rolled sheets of aluminum-magnesium-zinc alloy and protects from 14.5 mm bullets and from fragments of 155 mm high-explosive fragmentation shells, and the bottom - from 9 kg of anti-tank mines. The sides and chassis are covered with rubber anti-cumulative screens. The Warrior's armored hull has an internal lining that protects the crew from armor fragments and also serves as sound insulation. The space between the backs of the landing seats and the sides of the hull is used for stowing spare parts and equipment of the infantrymen, which creates additional protection for the troop compartment. Externally, the armor is reinforced with dynamic protection. Armament: 30 mm L21A1 “Rarden” automatic cannon, coaxial machine gun, 94 mm LAW-80 grenade launcher. The crew of the car is 3 people. Landing party - 7 people.

The British command had high hopes for their promising infantry fighting vehicle. And the “Warrior” did not let its creators down - of the 300 vehicles that took part in “Desert Storm,” not a single one was lost in battle. A noteworthy incident occurred in Al-Amar (Iraq) on May 1, 2004: a Warrior patrol vehicle was hit by 14 RPG grenades. The heavily damaged vehicle managed to fight back and came out from under fire under its own power, saving the lives of the soldiers inside it (the entire crew was burned and injured). The commander of the BMP Johnson, Gideon Beeharry, was awarded the Victoria Cross.

In 2011, the UK government allocated 1.6 billion pounds for the modernization of the MCV-80 under the WCSP program. In particular, it is reported that the BMP will receive a new weapon system with a 40 mm automatic gun.
This is the MCV-80 “Warrior” - a machine that soldiers trust.

2nd place – M2 “Bradley”

American infantry fighting vehicle. Combat weight - 30 tons. Speed ​​– 65 km/h on the highway, 7 km/h afloat. Crew – 3 people. Landing party - 6 people.
Multi-layer armor made of steel and aluminum with a thickness of 50 mm provides all-round protection against small-caliber artillery shells. The mounted dynamic protection system serves as a reliable barrier to RPG rocket-propelled grenades. The case has a Kevlar lining on the inside, which prevents the formation of fragments. On the latest modifications, 30 mm steel screens are additionally mounted on the sides.
Armament: 25 mm M242 Bushmaster automatic cannon with a computerized fire control system, TOW ATGM and 6 M231 FPW machine guns. The armored vehicle's equipment includes such frills as the TACNAV tactical navigation system, ELRF laser range finder, infrared passive protection system against ATGMs and an MRE (Meal, Ready-to-Eat) food ration warmer.
At the time of its appearance, in 1981, the US military doubted the combat qualities of the new infantry fighting vehicle. But in 1991, during Desert Storm, all doubts were dispelled: Bradleys, using shells with depleted uranium cores, destroyed more Iraqi tanks than M1 Abrams main battle tanks. And only 1 infantry fighting vehicle was lost from enemy fire.
The well-deserved combat vehicle has become one of the most popular infantry fighting vehicles in the world - a total of 7,000 M2 Bradleys were produced. Its base also produces the M3 combat reconnaissance vehicle, the M6 ​​self-propelled air defense system and the M270 MLRS launcher for MLRS and tactical missiles.

1st place – M113


M113 of the Lithuanian Armed Forces on parade in Kaunas

Floating tracked vehicle weighing 11 tons. All-round protection is provided by 40 mm aluminum armor. Excellent capacity - 2 crew members and 11 paratroopers. The standard weapon is the M2 heavy machine gun. Fast (highway speed up to 64 km/h), passable and easy to maintain, the vehicle has become the most famous armored personnel carrier in the world. 85,000 M113 of all modifications were in service in 50 countries. The M113 has seen through every conflict from the Vietnam War to the 2003 Invasion of Iraq and, as of today, is still in production and is the primary armored personnel carrier of the US Army.
In addition to the armored personnel carrier, the M113 existed in the form of a command and staff vehicle, a self-propelled 107 mm mortar, a self-propelled anti-aircraft gun (armed with everything from a six-barreled Vulcan to a Chapperel air defense system), a repair and recovery vehicle, an ambulance, a tank destroyer with a TOW ATGM. , radiation and chemical reconnaissance vehicles and MLRS launcher.

Armored personnel carriers (APCs) have played an important role in military operations from World War I to the present day. Army-Technology.com has listed some of the best armored personnel carriers in use today based on protection, firepower, and mobility. Armored personnel carriers such as the Patria AMV, Boxer and Piranha V have enhanced protection, which allows for safer landing of infantry in the combat area.

Patria AMV

Patria AMV (Armored Modular Vehicle, armored modular vehicle) is a modern 8x8 armored vehicle made in Finland. The vehicle was introduced to the market in 2004, and to date approximately 1,400 vehicles have been ordered by the armed forces of Finland, Croatia, Poland, Slovenia, South Africa, Sweden and the UAE.

Patria received orders for 1,400 armored modular vehicles from seven countries

The Patria AMV carries three crew members and up to 10 infantry. The hull protects the crew from improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and shaped explosive charges (EFP). The front projection of the hull offers ballistic protection against 30 mm projectiles (APFSDS-T). The vehicle can also withstand explosions of non-clad mines up to 10 kg.

The Patria AMV version of the armored personnel carrier (APC) is equipped with a PML 127 OWS module with a 12.7 mm heavy machine gun. The car has maximum speed over 100 km/h and a range of 800 km.

Boxer APC

The Boxer version of the APC is one of the world's best armored personnel carriers produced by ARTEC, a joint venture between Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) and Rheinmetall. First of all, the Boxer armored personnel carrier is supplied German army. It can carry 11 people, including three crew members and eight infantrymen.

The vehicle's body is integrated with spaced and angled armor plates for protection against mines, improvised explosive devices and ballistic threats. It protects the crew from anti-tank and anti-personnel mines, bomb fragments and artillery shells, and also offers all-angle ballistic protection against weapons up to 14.5 mm at an impact angle of up to 30 degrees.

Boxer APC is one of the best armored personnel carriers in the world.

The FLW 200 remote control station has a 12.7 caliber heavy machine gun or a 40mm automatic grenade launcher. The vehicle is also integrated for use with IDZ (infantryman of the future) technology being developed by the German army. The Boxer armored personnel carrier has a maximum speed of 103 km/h and a range of up to 1050 km.

Piranha V

This is the latest model in the Piranha family - a multi-role wheeled armored vehicle manufactured by MOWAG (now known as General Dynamics European Land Systems-Mowag). The Piranha V armored personnel carrier seats 13 people in a well-protected armored body that protects against the effects of mines, improvised explosive devices and EFP threats. The vehicle can be equipped with an active protection system and additional armor, offering different levels of protection with more than 95% all-angle coverage.

Piranha V is the fifth generation of multi-purpose wheeled armored vehicle in the Piranha family from General Dynamics European Land Systems-Mowag.

The armored personnel carrier can be armed with various modular systems, ranging from remotely controlled light modules with small arms, heavy systems with cannon weapons, such as the 30-mm LANCE turret. The armored personnel carrier combines an MTU diesel engine and efficient driving systems (FEDS), which give it a maximum speed of 100 km/h and a range of 550 km.

Pandur II 8x8

The Pandur II 8x8 armored personnel carrier is an improved version of the Pandur 6x6. It is a wheeled armored personnel carrier manufactured by General Dynamics European Land Systems-Steyr. The vehicle is currently in service with the Czech Army and the Portuguese Armed Forces.

Pandur II 8x8 armored personnel carrier is in service with the Czech army and the Portuguese armed forces

The Pandur II armored personnel carrier offers space for 14 troops, including crew, and can be modularly armored to protect against ballistic threats, mines, improvised explosive devices and hand-held grenade launchers (RPGs).

The SP30 turret on the Pandur II is armed with a Mauser 30mm MK 30-2 cannon, while vehicles used by the Czech Army are equipped with a pod equipped with a 30mm Mk44 Bushmaster II. Additional weapons include a 7.62 mm machine gun and 76 mm smoke grenade launchers. The car has a top speed of 105 km/h and a range of 700 km.

ARMA 8×8 APC

The ARMA 8×8 modular wheeled armored vehicle was inaugurated in Turkey by Otokar Otomotiv Savunma Sanayi at the International Defense Industry Fair (IDF) 2013. The ARMA base serves as a modular platform for various configurations to complete various missions.

The internal layout of the ARMA armored personnel carrier is designed to accommodate the driver, commander and ten military personnel. The armored hull provides a high degree of protection against kinetic energy (KE) cores, mines, RPGs, EFPs and improvised explosive devices.

Otokar's ARMA 8x8 is a new generation of wheeled armored personnel carriers offering mobility, modularity and protection

The ARMA version of the armored personnel carrier is equipped with a remote control module with 7.62 mm/12.7 mm machine guns or an open dome turret with a 20 mm cannon or a Mizrak-30 remote control turret (30 mm cannon + 7.62 mm machine gun, L-UMTAS long-range anti-tank guided missiles. These missiles are laser-guided). The six-cylinder diesel engine provides a top speed of 105 km/h and is capable of propelling the car to a range of 700 km.

BTR-82A

The BTR-82A, an improved version of the BTR-80 family of vehicles, is an 8x8 armored personnel carrier produced by the Russian Military Industrial Company for use by the armies of Russia and Kazakhstan.

The BTR-82A is equipped with a 30 mm 2A72 cannon and a 7.62 mm PKMT machine gun

Production of the BTR-82A began in September 2013. The first vehicles are expected to be delivered Russian army in 2015. The vehicle can carry three crew members and seven soldiers and offers more advanced protection compared to the BTR-80. Additional armor slots for the BTR-82A help protect the crew from mines and improvised explosive devices.

The armored personnel carrier features a reinforced floor with several layers of armor. It is equipped with a 30 mm 2A72 dual-fed cannon and a 7.62 mm PKMT machine gun. Turbodiesel engine KAMAZ 740 with a power of 300 hp. allows you to reach a maximum highway speed of 100 km/h and provides a range of 600 km.

AV8 8×8 APC

The AV8 armored personnel carrier is produced by Deftech in collaboration with FNSS and was shown in 2012. The vehicle was developed for the Malaysian Armed Forces based on the FNSS Pars 8x8 APC. Armored personnel carriers, which are in service with the Turkish army.

The vehicle has the ability to accommodate 13 troops and is equipped with a composite of aluminum and steel armor. It also has additional armor that is hinged to the frontal projection as well as both sides of the hull.

AV8 APC can reach a top speed of 100 km/h

The AV8 vehicle is equipped with a two-man Denel LTC30 turret with a 30 mm GI-30 cannon and an FN Herstal MAG 58M co-axial (coaxial) 7.62 mm machine gun. It is powered by a Deutz turbocharged diesel engine and can reach a top speed of 100 km/h and has a range of 700 km.

Terrex 8×8 APC

The Terrex 8×8 armored personnel carrier is manufactured by ST Kinetics and is in service with the Singapore Armed Forces. The vehicle offers greater mobility and increased survivability for 13 military personnel. It has a built-in central tire inflation system that allows you to automatically change tire pressure for different areas while driving.

Terrex 8×8 armored personnel carrier can transport 13 military personnel

The armored personnel carrier is equipped with active and passive layers of armor and can also be protected from improvised explosive devices and mines. It contains a twin-weapon remote control system, which includes a 40 mm automatic grenade launcher and a 7.62 mm machine gun, or two 0.5" (12.7 mm) heavy machine guns.

The car is powered by a six-cylinder, four-stroke Caterpillar C-9 turbodiesel engine that generates 450 hp. Its power allows the car to gain the necessary strength to reach a maximum speed of 105 km/h and travel up to 600 km.

BTR-4 8×8

BTR-4 - 8x8 armored personnel carrier produced by the Kharkov Mechanical Engineering Design Bureau named after. Morozova (Ukraine). Vehicles are in service with the armies of Iraq and Ukraine and are intended to transport motorized rifle units and provide fire support in combat operations.

The BTR-4 was introduced in 2006, production began in 2008. It can carry three crew members and seven paratroopers and can withstand automatic small-caliber cannons. It can work in any climate conditions day and night.

Production of the BTR-4 began in 2008.

The armored personnel carrier is equipped with a 30 mm automatic cannon and a 7.62 mm machine gun, and also has a 30 mm grenade launcher and an anti-tank missile system. It runs on a 3TD diesel engine with a power of 500 horsepower, allowing it to reach a maximum speed of 110 km/h with a range of 690 km.

Stryker ICV

The main armored personnel carrier (ICV), produced by General Dynamics Land Systems for the US Army. The ICV entered service in 2002 and is available in eight variants. It can carry two crew members and nine soldiers.

The Stryker ICV entered service with the US Army in 2002.

The hardened steel housing provides essential protection. The vehicle also has slot cells and can be equipped with various kits to improve hull survivability. It is equipped with a remote module with a 50 caliber machine gun or MK 19 grenade launcher + smoke grenade launchers for protection from direct fire. Powered by a 350 hp Caterpillar JP-8 diesel engine, the vehicle can reach a top speed of 96.5 km/h and has a maximum range of 530 km.



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