Rare Russian combat vehicle spotted in Ukraine
An ultra-rare Russian combat vehicle was spotted in the Donbas region, Ukraine.
The 50-ton class armored mine clearance combat vehicle was reportedly spotted in the easternmost part of Ukraine.
A mysterious new vehicle called BMR-3MA Vepr was developed by the Uralvagonzavod (UVZ) corporation (a subsidiary of Rostec), specifically for the Russian Armed Forces. It is a heavy mine-clearance vehicle that features a protection level similar to the one of the T-90 tank and is reinforced with the Kontakt-1 explosive reactive armor.
The vehicle is designed to clear paths through minefields and provides area clearance using a motorized flail system to detonate mines in a safe manner.
The BMR-3M is fitted with Explosive Reactive Armor (ERA); anti-mine armored bottom protection; Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN); and ballistic protection provided by the steel hull.
According to the UVZ, the BMR-3MA has an average road speed of 45-50 km/h and a road cruising range of 550 km with additional fuel tanks. The vehicle is armed with a 12.7 mm Kord heavy machinegun and carries a number of subsystems including a manual smoke screening system.
