Russia’s UralVagonZavod (UVZ) and France’s Renault Trucks Defense (RTD) have combined their know-how to offer potential customers an Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV).
A prototype of this future IFV was presented, for the first time, at the Russia Arms Expo which opened last Wednesday in the Urals city of Nizhny Tagil.

This 30-tonne combat vehicle incorporates all the experience of Ural Vagon Zavod in the area of armored hulls and armaments. UVZ is the world-famous builder of the Russian T-90 main battle tank. RTD, the French mobility specialist (VBCI, VAB, Sherpa), is supplying the power train for this 8x8 designed to offer all-terrain mobility equivalent to that of a tracked vehicle. The two companies have worked together to propose the most open, evolutionary architecture.
 
Cooperation between RTD and Ural Vagon Zavod was launched in February 2013 at the last edition of the IDEX exhibit in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Today this partnership has resulted in this initial project, which aims to replace the BTR-80s in service in the Russian Army. It should be noted that this 8x8 will be offered in several versions to take account of the requirements of the most demanding customers: troop transport vehicle (with a 57-mm turret), infantry combat vehicle (with 120-mm mortar or anti-tank missile), ambulance, breakdown vehicle or armored police vehicle.

In terms of mobility, certain versions will be amphibious and air-transportable by Il-76.
 
“Renault Trucks Defense provided us with the transmission, the engine, the concept and the fire control system,” UralVagonZavod Chief Exectuive Office Oleg Sienko said.

According to Sienko, the new IFV will be highly competitive on global markets because it is equipped with a powerful 57-mm gun, instead of the 30-mm variant that is standard for current IFVs.

“With its maneuverability and fire power, we are certain that this product will be in high demand on the market,” Sienko said, adding that a joint Russian-French venture could be formed to set up localized production of the new IFV in Russia.