Russia develops a “mobilization” APC
12 June, 2023 Graphic model of the new Russian armored personnel carrier. Photo credits: Andrei-bt Russian designers are developing a new armored personnel carrier based on the Russian Boomerang combat vehicle.
The news was made public by blogger Andrei-bt on his social media. According to the author, the presented vehicle is a "mobilization" or just a simplified version of the ?-17 Boomerang wheeled armored personnel carrier of the Arzamas Machine-Building Plant, previously shown at parades in Moscow. Earlier, in May of this year, photos of the transportation of one of this armored vehicle on the territory of the Russian Federation appeared on the web.
An unknown model of an armored personnel carrier on the territory of the Russian Federation, May 2023
Boomerang
The publication notes that the vehicle has a number of serious counterfeit changes aimed at simplifying and reducing the cost of production.
This model differs significantly from the original version of Boomerang. The armored personnel carrier has a simplified driver's compartment with more primitive control. At the driver's place there is a hatch of the vehicle's commander with an archaic infrared spotlight and an inspection device, presumably TKN-3.
The new armored personnel carrier has received such a combat compartment, similar to those of BTR-82 and BMP-1?. The turret is equipped with a 2?72 30mm automatic gun and a PKT 7.62mm machine gun. The means of observation were limited to the TKN-4 periscope sight.
For comparison, the promising Boomerang APC was originally to receive its own remotely controlled Boomerang-BM combat module. It was armed with a 2?42 30mm automatic gun, a 7.62mm machine gun and a Kornet anti-tank guided missile system with four rails. The vehicle commander had his own panoramic sight, which could move independently of the turret.
K-17 Boomerang with Boomerang-BM combat module, April 2016
The armored personnel carrier has also lost the amphibious ability, which is clearly indicated by the lack of a water-repellent shield on the front panel of the vehicle and water cannons/propellers in the aft part.
Instead of the latter, containers were installed for the crew's property. The author notes that the undercarriage of the armored personnel carrier is borrowed from the Soviet BTR-80, which is also used in the Russian-modernized BTR-82. Besides, it is likely to have received a number of reinforcements in the design to carry an increased mass.
If you compare this model with the current serial Russian armored personnel carriers, then the new product should be a more convenient landing in the aft part of the vehicle. Nevertheless, the vehicle, instead of the ramp that the Boomerang has, received a simpler swing door. Also, the new prototype should receive a significant increase in armor protection, compared to the BTR-82 main wheeled armored personnel carrier of the Russian army.
Exact specifications of the new vehicle are unknown, but the Boomerang, taking into account ceramic modules, had protection against 30mm automatic guns rounds in the front projection and from 14.5mm machine guns rounds in a circle.
In fact, the new armored personnel carrier is a compromise solution between the need of the Russian army for a modern mass combat vehicle and the limited technical and economic capabilities of the Russian defense industry.