Belarus has started production of the Volat V2 armored personnel carrier (APC) (MZKT-690003) after state tests. The first batch will consist of 2 units, then the number of APCs will be increased to 10, Defence blog writes.
Volat V2 will be handed over to the military for field tests, participation in joint exercises with Russia and China, and sent to arms exhibitions in 2026. The Belarusian authorities hope that this will help promote the APC on the international market and attract potential buyers.
Representatives of Kuwait and the UAE, as well as countries in the Middle East, have shown interest in the new APC.
Volat V2 specifications:
- Combat weight — 23.5 t
- Engine power — 560 hp
- Highway speed — 110 km/h
- Water speed — 8 km/h
- Fuel tank capacity — 2 x 200 l
- Armament: 30-mm 2A42 gun, 7.62 mm PKT machine gun
The armored personnel carrier can climb steep slopes, overcome water obstacles, and travel over rough terrain thanks to a ground clearance of 500 mm.
MZKT manufactures chassis for the Russian Iskander OTRK and S-400 Triumf SAM system; the creation of the basic design for Volat V2 is seen as an expansion of the range of products manufactured.
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