Ukraine unveils advanced armed combat vehicles as military upgrade
To reduce reliance on the West, Ukraine is enhancing its own defense sector. Now, an updated version of the vintage Soviet BTR-60 armored personnel carrier, named Khorunzhyi, is ready for combat.
The Ukrainian Defense Ministry has greenlit the domestically manufactured armored personnel carrier, Khorunzhyi. As stated from Kyiv, "this is a substantially modernized version of the Soviet BTR-60 model." Armored personnel carriers primarily serve to transport infantry safely across the battlefield and aid soldiers in combat. They provide more space than tanks yet possess less firepower.
Thanks to the integration of first-rate Finnish steel, the newly fortified Ukrainian Khorunzhyi armored personnel carrier, according to Kyiv, boasts significantly superior protection without incurring excess weight. "The front armor can withstand bullets fired by a heavy machine gun from a distance of ten meters."
To aid infantry in combat, the Khorunzhyi is armed with a 14.5-mm machine gun or a 30x113-mm cannon. Its maximum speed is 80 kilometers per hour, with a range of 500 kilometers.
"The new armored personnel carrier comes equipped with modern electronics, video cameras, air conditioning, and an autonomous generator that enables the vehicle to operate even without the engine running," the Defense Ministry writes.
Army procurement potential
Although it's unclear to what extent the Ukrainian Military will acquire the Khorunzhyi, which can be produced in six unique variants, its deployment on the battlefield is now feasible due to the Defense Ministry's approval.
As reported by Euromaidan Press in 2011, Ukraine had up to 1,000 mothballed, outdated BTR-60s in various configurations. With appropriate funding, these could be modernized, as suggested.
Given the delayed weapon deliveries from the West and limitations on their use, Kyiv seeks to produce as many weapons as it can to successfully defend itself against Russian aggression.
The Ukrainian Defense Ministry's approval of the Khorunzhyi marks a significant step in reducing Ukraine's dependence on imported armored personnel carriers, as it now has a domestic supply of arms.
In light of potential delays in weapon deliveries from the West and restrictions on their use, Ukraine's enhancement of its own defense sector, including the production of the Khorunzhyi, becomes crucial for its self-defense against Russian aggression.
