The Kestrel wheeled Indian armored vehicle ("Kestrel") was created to replace the outdated Czechoslovak-made OT-64 armored personnel carriers and Soviet BMP-1.
Indian 'Kestrel' 8x8 WhAP Tested At Ladakh And Sikkim.. ??? pic.twitter.com/1gQ1uNc70o
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Modules with weapons of various types, including uninhabited ones, were installed on it at different times. However, judging by the video footage that appeared on the Network, currently preference is given to the tower from the Russian BMP-2 Sarath ("Victory Chariot"), which is produced in India under license.
Such a solution, in principle, is understandable - unification with a fairly common and well-proven tracked model is provided, which should significantly reduce the price during mass production. It will also facilitate the development of new equipment in the troops.
In addition, the installed 30-mm 2A42 automatic cannon, despite its age, is still a fairly powerful weapon designed to destroy various targets.
Thus, lightly armored objects, such as infantry fighting vehicles, armored personnel carriers, artillery and anti-aircraft self-propelled guns, can be hit at ranges up to 1500 meters, low-flying planes and helicopters, drones - at 2000-2500 meters, and enemy manpower - at 4000 meters. Rate of fire: from 200 to 550 rounds per minute. The initial velocity of armor-piercing ammunition is 970-1120 meters per second. There is also a 7.62 mm PKT machine gun with a sighting range of 1500 meters.
The modified launcher mounted on the roof can use both Russian anti-tank guided missiles "Konkurs" and Franco-German Milan.
Interestingly, such towers have been installed on Egyptian two-axle Fahd armored personnel carriers since 1991.
They can be seen on one of the variants of the Russian infantry fighting vehicle K-17, created on the medium platform "Boomerang". However, it uses a modernized version of the "Berezhok".
Also in 2021, the Minsk Wheeled Tractor Plant presented a promising wheeled BMP MZKT-690003 Volat V-2 with a combat separation from the "two".
Alexey Moiseev
