The Russian Defense Ministry is set to develop next-generation unified engineer vehicles for the country’s armed forces. The new development and engineering project has been named “Gorets-O”, the Russian equivalent of the word “mountaineer”, Russia’s daily newspaper Izvestia reported on Thursday.
It is set to be a large tracked armored vehicle equipped with machine-guns, electronic countermeasure devices and a GLONASS navigation system.
The vehicle will basically be used for earth-moving works on the battlefield, as well under enemy fire. It will move in advance of infantry or paratroopers, breaching obstacles (such as stone or tree entanglement), bridging ditches and, if necessary, ploughing minefields.
The “Gorets” will be equipped with a ditching scoop and backhoe, a hydraulic hammer, winches, a crane and other necessary equipment.
Unlike its predecessors, the vehicle will be amphibious and will be able to withstand temperatures ranging from —40°C to +40°C.
The projected development cost of the vehicle is 350 million rubles ($6.84 mln). The first test of the pre-production model is set for 2017; if it is successful the vehicle will then enter the field.
The two-member crew will include a commanding officer and machine driver; a separate compartment may seat at least two combat-engineers.
The vehicle will be able to operate for 600 km without refueling and then work on site for at least three hours.
It will come to substitute Russia’s Soviet-era IMR-2, IMR-3 armored breaching vehicles and BAT-M and BAT-2 military bulldozers.
