AMZ-KUTNO offers this year Behemoth and Tour V

AMZ-KUTNO offers this year Behemoth and Tour V

AMZ-KUTNO SA is currently the largest private manufacturer of armored vehicles in Poland. Almost every year new items are presented at the International Defense Industry Exhibition in Kielce. This year, the company is focusing on two products that have been consistently promoted and developed over the years: the hippopotamus heavy amphibious wheeled armored personnel carrier and the Tur V armored car. promising machine for special forces.

CKPTO Hipopotam was established several years ago as part of a project funded by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education. It was developed by a consortium led by AMZ-KUTNO SA, which also included: the Military Institute of Engineering Technology, the Military Institute of Armored and Automotive Technology, the Military University of Technology, the Gdańsk University of Technology and the Institute of Automotive Industry. All major components of the car's eight-wheel chassis, including the frame, suspension and drivetrain, have been designed from the ground up for this design. The first information about the new wheeled conveyor appeared in 2011, when its computer vision and layout were presented. The following year, a prototype was ready in the version intended as the base vehicle for the Wheeled Reconnaissance Vehicles (KTRI). The manufacturer immediately decided to flaunt it, and Behemoth was shown at MSPO in September. Since then, the giant from Kutno has been a regular visitor to the Kielce showroom and is one of the largest objects on display there.

The biggest advantage of the "Hippo" is its ability to independently overcome water obstacles weighing about 30 tons. Taking into account the fact that the curb weight of the car is 26 tons, this allows you to take a payload of four tons! This is a very good result, making the Hippo one of the few designs with similar characteristics in the world. This, in turn, is combined with high fire resistance as for a wheeled conveyor - the base armor provides 1 level of ballistic protection according to STANAG 4569A, but additional composite armor allows you to increase it to level 4. High resistance to explosions was achieved, among other things, due to individual crew protection systems (for example, explosion-proof seats). The machine is adapted to the layout of the ZSMU.

According to the original project, the machine was supposed to become the basis of an engineering reconnaissance wheeled transporter, and it was in this version that its prototype was created. It was supposed to have a crew of 5 people (commander, driver, two reconnaissance sappers and a reconnaissance chemist) and be equipped with many specialized devices. However, the design of Behemoth allows you to quickly adapt the interior depending on the needs of the user. The consortium offers it to the Polish Armed Forces in various variants, suggesting the possibility of its use, for example, as:

- mobile laboratory or command post - after equipping the vehicle with a crew cabin (armored at least level 1 according to STANAG 4569A) and a container frame, it will be possible to transport standard ISO containers;

- modular technical support vehicle - after installation of specialized equipment on the chassis (hoist, blade, towing device, lifting device, winch system);

- 155 mm howitzer gun;

– engineer-sapper specialist – after the integration of instruments (inductive mine detector, hydroacoustic instruments, etc.);

- a heavy transport vehicle with a van body.

The second proposal is the Tur V armored vehicle in a 4x4 configuration. This vehicle was created in response to the requirements for the Special Forces Multi-Purpose Vehicle (WPWS, formerly codenamed Pegaz). As part of the tender procedure, it is planned to order several hundred vehicles, of which 2017 for the Special Forces and the Military Police will be purchased in 2022-105, and ultimately 280 vehicles (150 for the Military Police and 130 for the Military Police). ). After 2022, deliveries will also begin for the Ground Forces, which will receive a significant amount of them. Work on its WPWS proposal was initiated by AMZ-KUTNO in 2014, and its prototype was ready in August of the following year. Tour V is an important element in the portfolio of AMZ-KUTNO, as it is based on its own chassis, specially designed for this design. It is also the company's first car with a frame structure, with a 4×4 drive system and independent suspension. The latter was created in collaboration with the reputable Timoney company, the same company that collaborated with the Hippo suspension.

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