Russian MoD to get LShA-2B light assault vehicles TASS 5260716

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Defence & Security News - Russia
 
Russian MoD to get LShA-2B light assault vehicles
Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) will receive several dozens of the LShA-2B Scorpion light assault vehicles (LAV) developed by LLC Zashchita Corporation, according to a source in the local defense industry.
     
Russian MoD to get LShA-2B light assault vehicles 640 001
The LShA-2B Scorpion
     
"The MoD and the Zashchita Corporation have signed the contract for the delivery of several dozens of LShA-2B Scorpion LAVs to the Russian Armed Forces. In accordance with the agreement, the Special Forces will have received the required vehicles by 2018. The Scorpion LAV meets all requirements issued by the service. It is a reliable and low-cost vehicle, being able to provide efficient protection in close quarter battles (CQB). I suppose that LShA-2Bs will be used as mobile command-and-control (C2) posts or VIP transportation vehicles. Three variants of the Scorpion vehicle, namely LShA-2B (B stands for armoured, Bronirovannaya), LShA-1 (for Special Forces), and LShA-2 have successfully passed the state trials. Russia`s MoD has phased in all three LAVs," the source said.

He emphasized that LShA vehicles are intended primarily for the Special Forces. "At the same time, the MoD is planning to develop Scorpion-based mobile C2 posts, radar stations, medical evacuation vehicles," the source pointed out.

The LShA-2B armoured car meets all requirements in the area of imported components substitution, he said. "We are going to replace all imported nodes and components by Russian analogues. However, the vehicle are to be supplied with the Andoria diesel engine developed by Polish automotive industry, as it has the best power-to-weight ratio. Russian industry has yet to produce such compact and powerful engines. We are conducting negotiations with the Andoria S.A. Company to establish the licensed manufacturing of compact diesel engines in Russia. The aforementioned negotiations are at a final stage with the relevant contract to be signed soon. Nevertheless, the project`s outcome depends on the MoD`s requirements," the source pointed out.

According to him, LShA-2B is armoured at Level 2 (K) STANAG 4569 (all-round protection against 7.62mm steel core armour-piercing (AP) bullet at 30 m). "The vehicle`s steel armour can withstand several hits of 7.62x54Rmm cartridges. We have decided not to up-armour Scorpion, as the 7.62x54Rmm cartridges equipped with the B-32 incendiary AP bullets are not widespread. The installation of additional applique armour plates is going to limit the car`s payload in a drastic manner, resulting in the reduction of its passenger capacity. I would mention that neither MoD nor Ministry of Internal Affairs (Russian acronym: MBV) requires us to increase the vehicle`s protection level. Scorpion has received a spall liner to protect the crew and the mounted soldiers against bullets and small fragments," the source said, adding that the car is not equipped with ceramic armour plates due to the cost limitations. He pointed out that the LShA-2B`s engine compartment is not armoured at all in order to save the vehicle`s low combat weight.

The source said that Scorpion has sufficient anti-blast protection. "The vehicle can withstand the explosion of an improvised explosive device (IED) armed with 2 kg of TNT under its belly," he added.
     
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The LShA-2B Scorpion (Photo ArmyRecognition)
     
LSha-2B can transport up to six mounted soldiers, the source said. "The basic vehicle is equipped with six anti-blast seats (ABS) intended for the mounted soldiers. The Scorpion`s crew comprises two servicemen, namely, driver and commander. LShA-2B in armed configuration has four seats for the mounted soldiers. It should be noted that the MoD has ordered the vehicles in basic configuration and not equipped with FVU-100A filter installations," the source said.

According to him, the LShA-2B vehicles can be armed with 6P49 Kord heavy machinegun (chambered for 12.7x108mm cartridge), 6P41 Pecheneg machinegun (chambered for 7.62x54Rmm cartridge), and 6G25 AGS-30 automatic grenade launcher (chambered for 30x29mm grenade) in various configurations. "The Degtyarev Plant (a subsidiary of the High-Precision Weapons holding) and the Display design bureau (Vitebsk, Belarus) have jointly developed a remote control weapon station (RCWS) intended for the Scorpion vehicle. We are planning to test the RCWS in the shortest time possible. The station is armed with the Kord heavy machinegun that has an ammunition load of 200 cartridges," the source said.

He added that foreign countries have already revealed their keen interest in the acquisition of the LShA-2B vehicles. "Azerbaijan was planning to acquire a batch of Scorpions. Several foreign partners have sent the requests for proposal (RfP) in order to buy LShA-2Bs," the source said. However, he did not mention the potential customers for the vehicle. "We suppose that Scorpion will be in high demand at the global arms market," the source said.

According to the official specifications provided by the Zashchita Corporation, the LShA-2B Scorpion 4x4 LAV has a length of 4,890 mm, a width of 2,150 mm, a height a 2,187 mm, a total weight of 5,000 kg, a maximum payload of 1,100 kg, a maximum road speed of 130 km/h, a range of 1,000 km, a passenger capacity of six mounted soldiers, and a crew of two servicemen. The vehicle is powered by the Andoria diesel engine (166 h.p.).
     
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