Analogs of US Humvee, MaxxPro, and M113 are being deployed into battle against Russian forces by Kyiv, say reports in the Ukrainian media.
Recently, the Ukrainian “Kharakternyk” armored car, the “Sikach” armored personnel carrier, and the “Fox” carrier, all molded after American Humvees, MaxxPros, and M113s were deployed in several units of the Security and Defense Forces, said Defense Express.
Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense said Sikachs and Kharakternyks were used in Avdiivka. The Ministry said the vehicles “proved themselves excellently in combat conditions.”
Avdiivka was captured by Russian forces this month.
The current production capacity allows five copies of Humvee and M113 vehicles to be deployed monthly.
After the necessary tests, the completed equipment immediately goes to the front.
The High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle, or Humvee, was created as a light, multipurpose, off-road vehicle to supersede the venerable jeep and other light trucks.
The M113 is a fully tracked armored personnel carrier. Launched in the 1960s, it can carry up to 15 troops. The MaxxPro is a 21st-century armored car.
Sources told OBOZ.UA that Ukrainian Humvees are almost identical to their American counterparts.
One of the specialists who worked on the development of Ukrainian Humvees said that the feat was made possible by experienced combat operators and the creativity of Ukrainian engineers and mechanics.
A Ukrainian soldier said that when he first sat in a Ukrainian-manufactured Humvee, he could not tell the difference from a US import. Only once he looked closely at the interior did he realize it was an incredibly accurate local production.
Ukraine has been continually innovating weapons to bridge the gap with Russian forces.
For example, the The FrankenSAM project — referring to a combination of Frankenstein’s monster and the acronym for surface-to-air missiles — is a collaboration between the Pentagon and Ukraine.
The systems vary but can include converting Soviet-era Buk M1 antiaircraft systems to fire US-supplied RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missiles.
In January, Ukraine shot down a Russian exploding drone, in a first for the hybrid air-defense systems.
