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Modern russian "Bumerang" K-17 Armored Vehicles Are Redeployed, is Kremlin Willing to Risk Them on Ukrainian Frontline

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"Bumerang" K-17 infantry fighting vehicle / Open source illustrative photo
"Bumerang" K-17 infantry fighting vehicle / Open source illustrative photo

Despite bold suggestions that these wheeled combat vehicles are heading to the battlegrounds, most likely they were transferred to a special purpose military base

Open sources have started sharing a photo featuring the new russian "Bumerang" K-17 wheeled armored infantry fighting vehicle transferred by railways. There is no data regarding the location and date this photo was shot, there are five vehicles seen on it.

Also, the quality of the image could be better and it may be a screenshot from a video shot by a dash cam installed in the driver's compartment. It is also possible that the image is a fairly unsuccessful result of processing the image in a photo editor to artificially increase the number of vehicles in it.

Read more: ​No "Armata" On Ukrainian Frontlines, But Here You Have the "Modernized" T-62 of 2022 Edition

Nonetheless many russian media already released news saying those "Bumerang" K-17s are going to Ukrainian frontlines. Just like many other wunderwaffes of therussian military industry: "Armata", "Kurganets" and so on.

However, in reality, all these "parade only" pieces of russian equipment haven't been seen in Ukraine even once over the year of russian military campaign, despite numerous reports assuring that these "one-of-a-kind" weapons are "almost there".

That is why Defense Express is cautiously skeptical about such reports. All the more reason to think so is that when the "Bumerang" K-17 was created in 2015, the supply of 2,000 units to the russian army must have started in 2019 but as usual was postponed. Now, given the current state of the military industry in russia, the prospect of mass producing this vehicle has become much less promising.

"Bumerang" K-17 / Open source illustrative photo

In particular, the state tests of "Bumerang" K-17 started in 2021, at the same time, the manufacturer promised to deliver the first experimental batch. Formally, it would allow russian media to claim adoption of the "Bumerang" by the armed forces. On the other hand, it would spare the russian defense ministry the obligation to procure them properly.

On a side note, ten "Terminator" tank support vehicles have been in the same status for 4 years already; now at least one unit less as it was confirmed destroyed in Ukraine.

The exact number of "Bumerang" K-17 in service with the russian army is unknown, although we can confidently say there aren't many, maybe a dozen or so. Because even during the military parade in 2021, there were only three present, and only two in 2022.

We should also remind that one of these vehicles stood out in 2020 when it started to emit smoke after a parade. It indicated some serious problems with the YaMZ-780 engine with a declared power of 750 hp and capability to tow a 30-ton vehicle.

The May 9 Victory Parade in russia may well be the reason behind the transfer of the "Bumerang" K-17 vehicles. Although the event takes place in a few months, the preparations for the day have already begun. For example, the other day, "Yars" intercontinental missile launchers arrived at the training camp for parade members.

That is why the variant when the "Bumerang" K-17 are transferred to a special training camp in Alabino near Moscow for parade preparations seems like the most reasonable among the explanaitions.

Read more: First Confirmed Loss of russian Terminator Tank Support Vehicle (Video)