Ukrainian VARTA 2 armored vehicle has entered state testing, Militarnyi reports on 3 November. Ekonomichna Pravda shared footage showing the vehicle maintaining stability during broadside fire with a 30 mm automatic gun. Representatives of Ukrainian Armor reported that the vehicle is undergoing necessary tests for codification by the Ministry of Defense, preparing it for potential contracting by the Defense Forces.
The vehicle features the Ukrainian SICH combat module, which first appeared on Defense Forces’ armored vehicles earlier this year. The module is an unnamed turret, featuring a ZTM-1 30 mm automatic cannon, an AG-30 automatic grenade launcher, and a PKT 7.62 mm machine gun, all remotely controlled from inside the vehicle.
In an interview with Militarnyi, the company’s head said developers are specifically adapting the module for Varta, reducing its weight and modifying the artillery component to decrease recoil energy for improved stability.
The VARTA 2 prototype was first unveiled in early September. The redesign has achieved weight reduction while enhancing protection to STANAG 3a/3b level, offering defense against 7.62×51 mm armor-piercing rounds and explosions with 8 kg of TNT.
NATO AEP-55 STANAG 4569 is a NATO standard, setting protection levels for occupants of logistic and light armored vehicles, with Level 3 covering 7.62×51 mm AP rounds at 30 meters, 8 kg AT mine blasts (3a for under-wheel/track and 3b for under-center explosions), and 155 mm artillery shell impacts at 60 meters.
VARTA 2 stands as the first Ukrainian 4×4 armored vehicle equipped with a heavy combat module featuring a full 30 mm automatic cannon.
Related:
- Reuters: Explosives scarcity limits Ukraine’s growing mortar shell production
- Protector unmanned ground vehicle showcased by Ukrainian defense firm
- New Russian Sarmat-3 armored vehicle destroyed days after first deployment
- Ukraine’s monthly production of Bohdana howitzers increased to about 20, Zelenskyy announces
- Ukrainian defenders receive American-made Cougar MRAP armored vehicles
- Ukrainian tech firm launches affordable thermal cameras for military drones
- Ukraine approves new Kozak-5MED armored medical vehicle for its armed forces
- Canadian armored vehicle manufacturer Roshel to invest millions of dollars in plant in Ukraine