22 February 2021

IDEX 2021: Uralvagonzavod offering UBIM engineering vehicles for export

by Dmitry Fediushko

Russia’s Uralvagonzavod (UVZ, a subsidiary of state corporation Rostec) is now offering its Multipurpose Armoured Engineering Vehicle (Universalnaya Bronirovannaya Inzhenernaya Mashina: UBIM) for export, UVZ Director General Alexander Potapov told Janes on 21 February at the IDEX 2021 event in Abu Dhabi.

“The UBIM has seen its first foreign presentation at the IDEX 2021 defence show. The vehicle has already completed all its trials,” Potapov said.

UVZ’s exported-oriented UBIM engineering vehicle, shown here as a scale model, was showcased for the first time at IDEX 2021. (Dmitry Fediushko)

The platform is designed to conduct engineering works under heavy fire and in contaminated areas. “The UBIM lays down roads, clears obstacles, and tows vehicles that need to be repaired,” said Potapov.

It is built on a T-90M Proryv-3 (Breakthrough) main battle tank (MBT) chassis, and weighs about 55 tonnes. The vehicle features automation that enables the crew to be reduced to two service members.

“The UBIM’s applique equipment is controlled via a remote panel with two sticks. The vehicle is also fitted with an electronic controller of its engineering subsystems,” said Potapov. The basic UBIM is fitted with a 4.5 m U-type folding dozer blade, a crane with a bucket, a replaceable hydraulic breaker, and a field engineering kit. It can transport up to three engineers.

The vehicle’s organic tank-level armour protection has been reinforced with applique armour plates and a bank of eight Tucha smoke dischargers on the left. A remotely operated weapon station with a Kord-family 12.7 mm heavy machine gun is mounted on the top of the crew compartment.

Russia’s Uralvagonzavod (UVZ, a subsidiary of state corporation Rostec) is now offering its Multipur...

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