The main feature of the vehicle is increased cross-country capability.
The first serial truck "BAZ" is ceremoniously rolling off the assembly line. This is how the Almaz-Antey Aerospace Defense Concern is entering the civilian market of heavy automotive equipment.
"We have once again proven to everyone, and most importantly to ourselves, that we can implement very technologically complex, engineering-challenging projects at the highest level even under difficult conditions while being under sanctions," noted Vasily Shpak, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation.
This St. Petersburg enterprise has implemented a full production cycle for trucks - from welding to final assembly. Moreover, the entire process was established from scratch in just two years - thanks to financial support. Assisting in the diversification of defense enterprises to achieve the technological sovereignty of the country is one of the priorities of the bank that provided this concern with a preferential loan of over 8 billion rubles (about 90,000,000 euros).
"We were interested in this project, to participate in it in light of the fact that this is a landmark project for a new Russian truck for harsh conditions, plus the timing when all other foreign manufacturers left, creating a vacuum, and we needed new equipment to increase our own production - this equipment has now appeared," emphasized Oleg Minaev, First Deputy Chairman of PSB.
The investments allowed for the implementation of a rather bold but strategically important project - a new heavy truck with increased cross-country capability created from Russian and Belarusian components. It will be able to operate in the most challenging conditions - this has already been proven in tests.
"At the Obukhov plant, there are test chambers for special equipment from -60 to +60, rain, sandstorms - all of this can be modeled, and all vehicles undergo such tests. We are confident that they will withstand everything necessary during their operation in all regions of the Russian Federation," said Mikhail Podvyaznikov, General Director of JSC "NPO Obukhovsky Plant."
The main innovation is the unified independent suspension with a load capacity of 12 tons. It provides increased cross-country capability and smoothness of ride.
"The suspension is unique, there is none like it; we based it on the developments of the Bryansk Automobile Plant - the reduction gear part, the onboard. It has already proven itself on military vehicles with its reliability, and based on this, we simplified it, unified it, and created our suspension," stated Dmitry Lebedev, Chief Designer of JSC "Romanov."
Taking the chassis of military special equipment from the Bryansk Automobile Plant as a basis, a modern powerful truck has been created here. It will likely be in demand in many sectors of our economy.
Five types of cabins have been developed for these trucks - from long and high ones with two sleeping places to standard short ones. Moreover, all of them initially come in maximum configuration - with light and rain sensors, warm and comfortable.
Currently, two vehicles are being assembled per day on this line, but when production reaches full capacity, it is planned to produce 1400 vehicles per year. And not only for the domestic market but also for export - it is known that interest in new Russian trucks has already been shown in the United Arab Emirates.
