russia has acknowledged that it lacks a modern wheeled armored personnel carrier and that its current in-service models are outdated. Consequently, KamAZ, a truck manufacturer, has announced that it is developing its own alternative.
The company's director made this announcement during a meeting with russian president Vladimir Putin. According to him, a prototype will be developed in 2026, with testing to follow and a pilot production run planned for as early as 2027.
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The company's move into armored personnel carriers fits in with the trend of European companies partnering with the defense industry, a step the U.S. is also planning to take.
There is also an argument that the truck manufacturer lacks experience in designing and manufacturing full-fledged armored vehicles. As a result, the whole situation sounds like an attempt by the company to secure a share of defense contracts.
However, it is worth noting that KamAZ has designed and manufactured various armored vehicles, including MRAP-class vehicles. These include the BPM-97 Vystrel, the Typhoon-K, and the KamAZ-53949 family, which includes the Typhoon 4x4, Typhoon-VDV, and Linza variants.
A prototype of the KamAZ-63969 was unveiled in 2014, 12 years ago. It was also called the Typhoon-K, but externally it looks less like an MRAP and more like an APC. At the same time, this did not help it find its niche, despite attempts to market it as the RHM-9 radiation reconnaissance vehicle.
So, while not particularly successful, the company does have some experience in this field. In addition, for transporting personnel, it would be significantly more convenient than the BTR-82A, at least in terms of rear access compared to the current side doors. russia has already presented the modern BTR-22 concept, but so far there has been no indication of production, as the vehicle continues to appear only at exhibitions.
At the same time, the possibility that KamAZ is simply trying to profit from the situation should not be ruled out, as the company is currently going through a rough patch. In 2024, the company reported losses, even though the plant is the largest truck manufacturer in russia. It is important to note that its civilian production was hit the hardest.
If the company manages to secure an armored personnel carrier contract, it would be able to keep its production lines running and obtain additional funding to stay afloat. This does not necessarily mean that the military will receive a high-quality product that meets its needs.
It is worth noting that, given the lack of news about orders for the BTR-22, which features a more advanced front-engine layout, there are doubts that KamAZ will fare any better. However, a meeting with the russian president could potentially influence the situation and spark interest from the russian Ministry of Defense.
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