Ukrainian analogues of the US Humvee, MaxxPro, and M113 go into battle against Russia, say reports
Feb 26, 2024, 01:38 IST
- Ukrainian forces are deploying locally made armored vehicles modeled after US military versions.
- Reports say that Ukraine has built analogues of US Humvees, MaxxPros, and M113s.
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Kyiv is deploying analogues of US Humvee, MaxxPro, and M113 against Russian forces, reports in the Ukrainian media say.
Recently, several units of the Ukrainian Security and Defense Forces deployed the "Kharakternyk" armored car, the "Sikach" armored personnel carrier, and the "Fox" carrier, all modeled after American Humvees, MaxxPros, and M113s, Defense Express said.In a Facebook post, Ukraine's Ministry of Defense said that scouts used Sikachs and Kharakternyks in Avdiivka. The Ministry said the vehicles "have proven themselves excellently in combat conditions."This month, Russian forces captured Avdiivka.
The current production capacity allows Ukrainian forces to deploy five copies of Humvee and M113 vehicles monthly.
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One of the specialists who worked on developing Ukrainian Humvees said experienced combat operators and Ukrainian engineers' and mechanics' creativity made the feat possible.
A Ukrainian soldier said that when he first sat in a Ukrainian-manufactured Humvee, he could not tell the difference from a US import. He only realized it was an incredibly accurate local production once he looked closely at the interior.
Ukraine has been continually innovating weapons to bridge the gap with Russian forces.The FrankenSAM project — the name being a combination of Frankenstein's monster and the acronym for surface-to-air missiles — is a collaboration between the Pentagon and Ukraine.The systems vary but can include converting Soviet-era Buk M1 antiaircraft systems to fire US-supplied RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missiles.In January, Ukraine shot down a Russian exploding drone in a first for the hybrid air-defense systems.