Eurosatory 2022: Ostara eyes larger Krampus, serial production

The Mk 1 Krampus demonstrator pictured at Eurosatory 2022 defence exhibition, will be followed by a larger vehicle. (Janes/Huw Williams)

Vilnius, Lithuania-based Ostara Lab will soon commence work on a larger variant of its Krampus hybrid-electric all-terrain vehicle and expects it to be ready for serial production in two years.

Speaking to Janes at Eurosatory 2022 defence exhibition in Paris – where the company displayed its Krampus Mk 1 demonstrator – representatives said that the new vehicle will weigh around four tonnes and be configured with a modular rear area that can accommodate personnel, cargo, and mission systems.

The Krampus Mk 1 has a two-person configuration and features a Deutz diesel engine configured as a hybrid series and is connected to two Mitsubishi electric motors – one driving the front wheels, and the other at the rear. The battery pack is mid-mounted and can be plug-in charged.

The follow-on vehicle will use more powerful electric motors from Cascadia Motion Motors and potentially a new diesel engine, the representative said.

Development of the Krampus started around four years ago, the representative noted, and it was driven by a perceived gap in the market for a hybrid vehicle, which brings the advantage of ‘silent' operation for covert missions and large amounts of torque. The Mk 1 has a range of around 200 km when operating with just the battery and also on paved roads, according to the representative.

Given its hybrid-electric design, the vehicle's configuration would vary depending on the customer and operating environment, the representative noted, pointing at the need to pre-heat the battery in cold conditions and provide cooling in high temperatures. Ostara Lab is looking at the ability to operate in temperatures ranging from -40 to 60 degrees Celsius.