News of the automotive industry

On February 18, 2026, the Lithuanian Ministry of National Defense announced that it had received the last two of the 500 ordered American JLTV (Joint Light Tactical Vehicle) light armored vehicles with a 4x4 wheelbase manufactured by Oshkosh Corporation. This made the Lithuanian Armed Forces the second largest operator of JLTV vehicles after the US Armed Forces.

Armored patrol vehicles (APMs) are the "workhorses" of the armed forces, performing a wide range of combat and security tasks. Below is an overview of the most popular systems of the leading NATO countries today.

Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi did not directly confirm Tokyo's intention to join the NATO-coordinated program for the acquisition of U.S.-made weapons for Ukraine PURL and only announced the continuation of consultations with the alliance.

Secure vehicles and ground-based drones are used to refuel the equipment

On the eve of the 90th anniversary of the Fuel Service, Izvestia visited the 110th Brigade of the 51st Army of the Southern Military District to see how almost a century of fuel service experience is combined with robotics and how fuel logistics has changed.

Vladimir Demirov, Head of the Department of Resource Support of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, talks about how new technologies are changing the tactics of supplying troops with fuel

Drones have begun delivering fuel for military equipment operating on the front line in the SVO zone, the Russian military is laying pipelines along the bottom of rivers, and Navy ships will soon be able to refuel on the unequipped coast.

Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant plans to launch production of UAZ vehicles with a new powertrain closer to the third quarter of 2026. This was reported by the company's press service in January to popular publications.

Modern realities require the improvement of the provision system, including the organization of meals for military personnel. Therefore, in 2025, a military approbation (testing) of an automotive multifunctional kitchen with a KAMX-90 bakery unit was carried out. The development is domestic, made by a company with extensive experience in manufacturing such equipment and machinery. The development is proactive – at the expense of own funds.

Modern combined arms combat has undergone significant changes. What causes this is also well known. We are talking about increasing the firing range of artillery systems, active sabotage and reconnaissance operations, and most importantly, the massive use of reconnaissance and attack unmanned aerial vehicles.

As part of the support of our armed forces, specialists from the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant, in close cooperation with the activists of the Popular Front, presented a special modification of the legendary UAZ Hunter SUV.

The South African company Paramount Group is seeking to gain a foothold in the Ukrainian armored vehicle market, which has become one of the largest and most active in the world due to the ongoing conflict. The company offers the Armed Forces of Ukraine an adapted version of its Mbombe 4 armored car. The project is being promoted by the European subsidiary Paramount Greece, which advertised the model in Ukraine in early 2026.

Potential customers will see mobile MLRS, advanced anti-drone weapons and guided munitions at the World Defense Show 2026

The Sarma mobile MLRS, the BTR-22 armored personnel carrier, and a smart cartridge with shrapnel to destroy drones are just some of the new products presented by Russian manufacturers at the World Defense Show 2026 in Saudi Arabia, which opened on February 8.

One of the main vehicles of Israel's mechanized units is the Humvee light armored vehicle. According to Western observers, without auxiliary versions, there are more than 2-2.5 thousand units in various modifications in the active fleet and in storage.

The basic version of the Archer is based on a Volvo A30D 6x6 articulated chassis, which has made the self-propelled gun one of the most passable in its class. But it has also become the source of a number of serious problems.

Traditionally, 155/52 mm guns are mounted on 6x6 or 8x8 heavy trucks to compensate for recoil force and ensure stability when firing. As indicated, the new compact 4x4 chassis offered by Bharat Forge allows it to accommodate the same firepower. As a result, the mass of the ACS is only 24 tons. For example, the weight of the ATAGS howitzer mounted on the chassis is currently 31 tons (probably referring to the Kalyani MArG 8x8 self-propelled gun, also known as the 155mm/52 Caliber Truck Mounted Gun).

Russia has created a new multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) "Sarma", which is already called the "Russian Haimars". The combat vehicle was first shown last fall. According to experts, Sarma is already undergoing testing in the special operation zone.

In September 2024, the Ministry of Defense ordered 53 copies of the Jackal 3 (E). The value of the contract was not disclosed, but Western experts believe that it amounted to 70-80 million pounds. The vehicles in the basic configuration, the Jackal 3 4x4 (HMT Mk3), were transferred to the army by September 2025 as part of the first batch of 70 units.