Ukrainian soldiers received domestic buggies “Predator”: what are the advantages of the vehicle (photo)
A new batch of small all-terrain vehicles, the “Khizhik” buggy, has been delivered to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. They proved to be excellent in the combat zone in terms of maneuverability, cross-country ability and evacuation of the wounded.
This was said Oleksandr Kovalenko, military observer of the Information Resistance group.
According to him, these cars are a project of enthusiasts from Vinnytsia. They quickly became in demand in units specializing in specific combat missions.
“Today, another batch of Khizhchik buggies has been prepared for delivery to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This was due to the fact that the lightness and high cross-country ability of the Khyzhachok buggy allowed it to be used not only as a vehicle for a reconnaissance team and a mobile firing point, but also as a vehicle for delivering cargo and evacuating the wounded,” Kovalenko said.
Features of the Predator buggy:
- Weight – 700 kg;
- The engine power is 65 liters per second;
- The speed is 110 km/h;
However, the expert believes that the main advantage of the car is its cross-country ability and modifications. This makes it possible to install, for example, a universal turret that can be fitted with a 12.7 mm M-2 Browning machine gun, or a DShK, AGS-17/KBA-119 or MK-19 automatic grenade launcher.
There is also a modification with an enlarged cargo compartment. This allows for the stationary deployment of an 82-mm mortar or a 60-mm mortar. At the same time, the modification does not preclude the possibility of retaining the universal turret.
Moreover, the expert notes that the bug is constantly being improved. Its creators have improved the ergonomics of the buggy, installed gas and oil shock absorbers from the Outlander, strengthened the front axle, improved the quality of parts, their reliability, etc.
“We are currently considering the production of an all-wheel drive version, and in the workshop of one of the plants I was able to see a prototype created on the basis of a donor – VAZ-2121/2131. We are also considering the possibility of creating a modification for technical assistance, so that repair units can go to the place of repair not on bulky and noticeable vehicles, but on buggies that are small, light, but able to accommodate all the equipment necessary for repair,” said Oleksandr Kovalenko.
He emphasized that the Predator proved to be an excellent vehicle in the combat zone in terms of maneuverability, cross-country ability, fire support, cargo delivery and evacuation of the wounded, and now the requests from units, especially fire support, for vehicles exceed production capacity.
“I hope that this project will be paid a little more attention to, because the domestic production of such vehicles is still better than purchasing Chinese products with rather mediocre capabilities in our harsh realities. To date, the production of Predator buggies has reached the level of 1 vehicle per day, and in the year since the start of production of these vehicles, about a hundred Predator buggies have already been handed over to the Defense Forces. However, this number is not enough to cover all the incoming requests and needs,” Kovalenko summarized.
