The first serial Volat V-2 armored personnel carriers (MZKT-690003-021) have entered service with the Belarusian army, marking the beginning of the renewal of the wheeled armored vehicle fleet and the transition to its own modern platforms. The vehicle has passed state tests and is now being mass-produced at the Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant.
The Volat V-2 is a multi-purpose 8×8 armored personnel carrier designed for a crew of three and a troop complement of up to eight soldiers. Its weight in various configurations reaches 22–23.5 tons, and the vehicle is powered by a Weichai WP13 diesel engine with a power output of approximately 550–560 hp, coupled with an automatic transmission. The maximum speed on the highway reaches 110 km/h, and thanks to the installed water jets, the vehicle is capable of overcoming water obstacles at a speed of approximately 10 km/h. The range, according to open sources, can be up to 900 km.
The armor provides protection against 7.62 mm caliber bullets in all directions and against 12.7 mm in the frontal projection. Compliance with STANAG 4569 levels 2a/2b for ballistic and mine resistance is indicated, as well as the possibility of installing additional modular protection.
The armament of the Volat V-2 depends on the installed combat module. One of the demonstrated options includes a modernized turret from the BMP-2 with a 30-mm 2A42 automatic cannon and a coaxial machine gun, as well as the possibility of integrating Konkurs or Konkurs-M ATGM launchers. Other configurations use unmanned remotely controlled modules, which allows adapting the platform for fire support tasks or even for the functions of a wheeled infantry fighting vehicle.
