Mysterious armoured vehicle spotted near Russian tank plant

A video has surfaced online showing a very interesting vehicle moving around the Uralvagonzavod plant in Nizhny Tagil, which is responsible for the T-72 and T-90 tank families, among other things.

It appears to be an extraordinary armoured vehicle, looking like a heavy armoured personnel carrier built on a tank chassis, heavily inspired by the Israeli Namer. This response to Russian frontline needs, where standard infantry fighting vehicles from the BMP family are too lightly protected.

Recently, these have often been replaced by awkwardly junk-clad tanks looking like "armoured barns" or "tortoises". However, the junk provides only some protection against FPV drones with a single cumulative warhead. Still, shrapnel from artillery shells or rounds fired from automatic cannons will easily penetrate this type of shield. The same goes for modern anti-tank weapons.

The footage shows that the Russians have built an armoured superstructure for six or even ten soldiers on the hull of some tank (most likely a T-72, but possibly a T-80). It can be assumed that its armour structure is similar to the hull or turret, so in theory, it should withstand hits from weapons capable of penetrating the equivalent of several inches of armour steel without any problems.

Interestingly, the superstructure ends at the back and most likely has a ramp, where the engine is usually positioned. Hence, this is a departure from models like the BMO-T or Ladoga. This engine is most likely moved to the front, as indicated by the less flattened front and drive wheels at the front, which are closest to the engine. In the case of T-72 tanks and others, drive wheels are located at the back.

This prototype is an example of how the Russians are also learning lessons from the war in Ukraine. However, even if the new vehicle rapidly goes into serial production, its deliveries will still be too few to significantly impact the frontline situation.