According to information published by the Slovenian news website "24UR.com" on April 26, 2023, the Slovenian government has secretly delivered 20 Valuk 6x6 Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) vehicles to Ukraine. The Valuk armored vehicle, used by the Slovenian Armed Forces, is a Pandur-type armored personnel carrier manufactured by Sistemska Tehnika Armas of Slovenia.
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Slovenian army Valuk 6x6 armored personnel carrier vehicle. (Picture source Wikimedia)
The Valuk armored vehicle is produced in Slovenia under a licensed manufacturing agreement with the Austrian company, Steyr Daimler Puch Spezialfahrzeug (now a part of General Dynamics Land Systems - Europe), and is based on the design of the Pandur, a 6x6 armored vehicle.
According to the Slovenian news site "24UR.com," there is no official confirmation from the Slovenian government regarding the shipment to Ukraine. However, the report suggests that the delivery was completed this week in complete secrecy. The Valuk vehicles donated by Slovenia to Ukraine come from the military inventory of the Slovenian armed forces. According to our source, currently, the Slovenian Armed Forces had a total of 85 Valuk 6x6 armored vehicles.
Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, Slovenia has already supplied Ukraine with 28 M55S main battle tanks, 35 M80A tracked armored vehicles, 16 M101 105mm howitzers, 20 HMMWV HUMVEE light tactical vehicles, and various other weapons and military equipment.
Last week, Slovenia announced a joint procurement of ammunition for Ukraine's Armed Forces program and will sign an agreement with the European Defense Agency (EDA), which includes 23 EU member states. On March 20, 2023, European Union foreign and defense ministers approved a €2 billion plan to boost ammunition deliveries to Ukraine, including through joint purchases, as reported by Euronews.
The Valuk was developed in four variants: APC (Armored Personnel Carrier), ambulance, mortar carrier, and scout versions. The APC has a crew of three, including a driver, commander, and gunner. The rear part of the vehicle can accommodate up to six infantrymen. The roof of the vehicle is fitted with an open-top turret, which can be armed with a 12.7mm heavy machine gun or a 40mm automatic grenade launcher.
The vehicle's hull provides protection to withstand 7.62mm armor-piercing rounds through a full 360°, and 12.7mm armor-piercing rounds over a 30° frontal arc.
The Valuk is powered by a Steyr 612.35 six-cylinder turbo diesel engine and a hydrodynamically controlled automatic transmission with a torque converter and lock-up clutch, featuring five forward and one reverse gear. The engine provides a power-to-weight ratio of 20.4 kW per ton. It can reach a maximum road speed of 110 km/h.
