Ukraine's domestically produced Inguar-3 armored vehicle has officially entered service with two operational brigades of the National Guard, another clear indicator that its serial production is now well underway. The armored vehicle, developed by Inguar Defense, continues to expand its presence across the country's defense formations, confirming growing confidence in Ukraine's local defense industry.
The Inguar-3 vehicle was recently spotted in a video released by the press service of the 3rd Spartan Brigade. Earlier, in September, photos emerged showing these vehicles being fitted with additional anti-drone protection in the Sloviansk 18th Brigade. The time gap between sightings likely reflects ongoing deliveries from previously placed orders, signaling that the vehicle has reached stable production and field deployment cycles.
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This model is not entirely new to the National Guard, the pre-series version of the Inguar-3 vehicle had earlier been operated by the Azov 12th Brigade. That prototype was equipped with an electronic warfare suite developed by Kvertus, which has since been replaced with the Inguar vehicle's own in-house system for the mass-produced variant. Such changes indicate that the manufacturer has refined the design and is consolidating production with more localized components.
The Inguar-3 vehicle fills a critical gap within Ukrainian forces, where there remains an acute need for protected mobility vehicles across multiple roles – transport, evacuation, logistics, and combat missions. Supplying such equipment domestically not only strengthens Ukraine's military capabilities but also supports the resilience and growth of its defense industrial base. Maintenance, spare parts, and adaptation for battlefield realities can now be handled internally, without dependence on foreign suppliers.
Technically, the Inguar-3 vehicle offers both ballistic and mine protection corresponding to Level 3 of the NATO STANAG 4569 standard. This means it can withstand 7.62x51 mm armor-piercing incendiary rounds (such as the B-32) and survive a mine blast equivalent to 8 kilograms of TNT. The vehicle is built on a purpose-designed 4x4 chassis, ensuring off-road capability and stability, while its armor uses a combination of steel and aluminum plates to enhance protection against bullets and shrapnel without excessive weight.
The vehicles are also being upgraded with additional counter-drone systems, a sign of how battlefield realities are influencing Ukrainian manufacturers. Visual evidence from the Sloviansk Brigade shows Inguar-3 vehicles fitted with overhead mesh and electronic countermeasures to resist FPV drone attacks, which have become one of the most significant threats to both armor and logistics vehicles.
Other National Guard units continue to employ vehicles of different classes, such as the Novator by Ukrainian Armor, which belongs to a lighter category and is also widely used. However, the Inguar-3 vehicle's superior protection and purpose-built design make it better suited for frontline and high-risk operations, complementing lighter platforms in a layered mobility structure.
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