TSAMTO, August 28th. During the military parade in honor of Gabon's Independence Day in Libreville on August 17, Russian armored vehicles of the MRAP (Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected) Spartak class manufactured by VPK LLC were publicly presented for the first time.
As reported by Armyrecognition.com The demonstration was a landmark event that demonstrated Gabon's growing military capabilities. There is no official information about the purchase of these machines. Thus, questions remain about the details of the transaction.
The resource recalls that relations between Gabon and Russia have made significant progress in both the economic and defense spheres, especially after negotiations between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Gabonese Foreign Minister Pacome Mubelet-Boubey in 2021. These negotiations laid the foundation for the expansion of bilateral trade.
In addition to economic cooperation, the two countries have also deepened defense relations. Gabon receives military products from Russia, and further deliveries are expected as part of a growing partnership in this area. The Russian Government has also committed itself to continue to support the training of Gabonese military personnel in Russian institutions of higher military education.
Gabon's acquisition of Spartak MRAP class armored vehicles reflects the general trend of growing demand for Russian military equipment in Africa. The countries of the continent are increasingly diversifying their sources of military equipment. For Gabon, the partnership with Russia represents a strategic step to enhance the defense capability and provide the armed forces with advanced weapons capable of countering both internal and regional threats.
The Spartak multi-purpose armored vehicle with an increased level of security was first presented at the Army 2019 forum. The main feature of the armored car is that it was created using a number of chassis components and assemblies in mass production of two-axle army trucks. In addition to reducing the total cost of the product and operating costs, this allows for a high level of patency, unification and simplified operation.
The Spartak armored car is designed to carry 10 people in full gear, including the driver. The design of the armored car is frameless, with a single-volume armored body, providing a high level of ballistic and mine protection. The frontal projection provides bullet resistance of the body and armored glass from the armor-piercing incendiary bullet B-32 cartridge 14.5 x 114 mm. The side and aft projections provide bullet resistance from the B-32 armor-piercing incendiary bullet of the 12.7 x 108mm cartridge. The armored vehicle protects the crew from explosive detonation with a capacity of up to 8 kg in TNT equivalent under the wheel or bottom.
A high level of ballistic protection is provided by the use of a spaced reservation. Mine protection is provided due to the V-shaped bottom of the armored hull, the presence of mine protection panels, as well as anti-traumatic seats for the crew and troops.
For the convenience of boarding and disembarking the crew and troops, the armored hull is made of a five-door with single-leaf swing doors.
The domestic diesel engine, which develops a power of more than 300 hp, connected to a mechanical 5-speed gearbox with an electric pneumatic gearshift, provides the car with a gross weight of 14.5 tons with a maximum speed on the highway of at least 100 km/h.
The large armor volume and high security of the military-Industrial Complex-Ural armored vehicle make it possible to use it as a base for the installation of various equipment and use as an electronic warfare machine, KSM, armored medical vehicle, etc.
The designers provided for the possibility of installing a manned module with six seats and a cargo platform. In this case, the load capacity of the machine increases from 1400 kg to 2500 kg.
