State Enterprise SE “Kharkiv Morozov Machine-Building Design Bureau” a subsidiary of Ukraine’s state-owned defence industrial group Ukroboronprom, has begun serial production of the newest ATLET armored recovery vehicle.
According to the UkrOboronProm’s announced, the SE “Kharkiv Morozov Machine-Building Design Bureau” launched ATLET armored recovery and repair vehicles (ARV) into serial production.
The armored recovery and repair vehicle was designed by Kharkiv-Morozov Design Bureau specialists to conduct evacuation operations and repair works in the field conditions.
ATLET is equipped with a crane unit with a carrying capacity of up to 25 tons, allowing to replace the main nodes and components of the tank, including the turret and the engine and is based on a modified Oplot main battle tank chassis. For evacuation purposes, ATLET is equipped with a winch: maximum gravity load is up to 250 kN – enough to take out the main battle tank. Special equipment allows ATLET to tow combat equipment with towing speed of up to 25 km/h.
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A 1,000 HP engine allows to speed 46 tons ATLET ARV up to 70 km / h. In addition, new recovery vehicle can carry up to 1.5 tons load. It is equipped with a welding machine and other equipment, allowing to carry out a wide range of works on restoring combat capability of armored vehicles in the field conditions.
This combat vehicle will considerably enhance technical capabilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, ensuring a proper level of combat readiness of the tank units. In addition, ATLET ARV has a large export potential that will allow loading Kharkiv-Morozov Design Bureau production capacity, after the State Defense Order is fulfilled.
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The ATLET ARV was officially accepted to service with the Ukrainian Army in 2008. However, only one vehicle was built for Ukraine’s Army. This armored recovery vehicle is also proposed for export customers. The new two vehicles were ordered by the Thai Army requirement. The new vehicles are identical to ATLET of the Ukrainian Army but have some minor changes to meet Thai Army requirements, such as different radio, air conditioner and so on.