Like any universal platform, the MZKT-490100 became the ancestor of a whole family of special purpose vehicles, such as reconnaissance, medical, communications and electronic warfare vehicles, and many others. One of the first in this series was the MZKT-490100-015 reconnaissance and fire module with the Adunok complex developed by JSC AGAT — Control Systems. This vehicle is designed for conducting special and reconnaissance operations, combating illegal armed formations and sabotage and reconnaissance groups of the enemy and for a number of other related tasks.
In addition to an automated remotely controlled observation fire complex with a 12.7mm machine gun or a 30 mm automatic grenade launcher, the armored vehicle has communication and data exchange facilities (4G/LTE), reconnaissance equipment (tactical tank "Berkut"), an optoelectronic surveillance device. The staff department of the car consists of 6-8 people with individual and group weapons and equipment. The complex also has six launchers for setting up smoke screens of the "Cloud" type.
By 2018, the reconnaissance complex had undergone significant changes and received the name BRDM-4B. Most likely, this is due to the completion of the complex in the interests of the Ministry of Defense of Belarus. The machine "lost" its firing module, but significantly improved the reconnaissance one. Now the BRDM can conduct optoelectronic (infrared and television) ground (to a depth of 6 km) and aerial (to a depth of 40 km) reconnaissance, radio-electronic reconnaissance of VHF radio equipment (to a depth of 30 km), radar (to a depth of 18 km) and seismic (to a depth of 40 km) reconnaissance. In addition, the machine can provide intelligence processing, radio communication at a range of 30 km in motion and 350 km in parking, data transmission and navigation.
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| BRDM-4B on the MZKT-490100-015 chassis. |
| Source: warspot.ru |
Beltech Optronics presented its own version of the Rubon reconnaissance vehicle on the MZKT-490100-018 chassis in 2019. Volat has regained a remote firing module – this time DBM-T12.7, developed jointly with the Russian JSC Special Design Bureau of Instrumentation and Automation (Kovrov city). As weapons in the module, 12.7 mm machine guns of the Cord or NSV type with horizontal aiming angles of 360 degrees and vertical from -20 to +70 degrees can be used. The range of detection of a tank—type target is 8.5 km during the day and 5.5 km at night, and recognition is 5.5 and 3.5 km, respectively. The Rubon is capable of hitting automatically escorted UAVs, fire and vehicles both from the spot and on the move, both day and night.
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| MZKT-490100-018. |
| Source: warspot.ru |
Nowadays, the electronic warfare station against the Groza-S UAV on the MZKT-490100-014 chassis (developed by JSC KB Radar) is no less relevant. Groza-S is capable of detecting UAVs by radiating radio control lines, suppressing data transmission lines, and generating disinforming interference to on-board navigation equipment. In other words, such an electronic warfare station can land a drone, depriving it of a communication channel, or take control of it. The range of radio suppression of the UAV receiver is up to 30 km, and the ground control point is up to 10 km. Interference with the control of the GPS channel (or GLONASS, GALILEO, BeiDou) can occur at a range of up to 40 km.
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| MZKT-490100-014. |
| Source: vpk.gov.by |
One of the latest developments in the field of communications and telecommunications for the military is the combined radio station R-186 "Bogatyr-2" on the chassis MZKT-490100-019. It is intended for organizing communications during the conduct of various types of combat, performing peacetime tasks and emergency response at various levels of government. Such a "Bogatyr" is capable of organizing open and classified telephone communication at a range of up to 300 km. The complex includes Belarusian-made communication equipment: the Voskhod satellite communication system, VHF and HF radio stations, Xenon encryption equipment, automated workstations of the communications operator and management.
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| R-186 Bogatyr-2 on the MZKT-490100-019 chassis. |
| Source: warspot.ru |
The most powerful weapon in the Volat family is the Hornet-M ATGM on the MZKT-490100-016 chassis developed by the Minsk-based TSNIP CJSC. To control such a system, a crew of three people is enough. The ammunition package includes at least eight guided missiles in any of three caliber variants: 107-mm type RK-3, 130-mm type RK-2 or 152-mm type RK-2M. Either high-explosive fragmentation or tandem cumulative missiles are used as a warhead. Such ammunition is capable of piercing from 550 to 1100 mm of armor at a range of 2.5 to 8 km.
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| ATGM "Hornet-M" on the MZKT-490100-016 chassis |
| Source: warspot.ru |
It is worth noting that the entire Volat family continues to develop by leaps and bounds. Many samples have already been adopted by the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus and in fact show their high efficiency during operational and combat training activities. Moreover, the experience of ITS shows that today there is a demand in such mobile, silent and high-tech complexes as the Rubon BRDM, the Groza-S electronic warfare station, the Hornet-M ATGM, etc.
Pavel Kovalev
Ruslan Guk
Sources:
- Light armored combat vehicle MZKT-233036. Form 233036-0000010 FO
- Lightly armored vehicle MZKT-490100-017. Operating manual 490100-0000017 RE