It recently emerged that Armenia has begun assembling military vehicles known as buggies for small special tactical forces.
Currently, in the context of the rearmament of the Armenian army, this project is attracting attention, because the tanks are designed to perform specific military tasks.
Oku.Az Caliber.Az reports that it has investigated the mentioned cars in detail, taking into account all available facts and features.
What is known about the AM Technologies project:
The vehicle is produced by AM Technologies, a company that is part of Wolverine EADG LLC, financed by the Armenian government. The main purpose of the vehicle is to ensure the mobility of small tactical groups of special forces, which is especially important for agile maneuvers, reconnaissance and evacuation of wounded.
However, the project raises serious doubts for several reasons:
1. Lack of clear technical characteristics:
– The commercial posted on YouTube does not contain any information about the buggy’s power unit, chassis, off-road wheels, load capacity and maximum speed. These parameters are the basis for a vehicle intended for military purposes.
– Marking of the machine’s details and laser cutting of the metal indicate that a significant part of its components are manufactured in China. These are probably civilian models of UTVs, later modified for military needs in Armenia.
2. Lack of military adaptation:
– During the presentation, the rest of the AM Technologies were not equipped with weapons. However, on the front frame of the trunk there is a round platform that could allow the installation of a machine gun, an automatic grenade launcher or an anti-tank missile system (ATGM).
– Another major shortcoming is the lack of attachments for stretchers and other devices for evacuating the wounded. This severely limits the vehicle’s effectiveness, especially in operations where rapid evacuation of victims is required.
3. Chinese components:
– Armenian buggies are expected to be based on Chinese UTV models with 400cc engines capable of reaching speeds of 75 kilometers per hour. The price of these models ranges from 4000 to 6000 USD depending on the configuration. But since these models are not powerful enough, they may not meet combat requirements.
– The Chinese manufacturer is probably not aware of the military use of its products, which creates additional risks related to the reliability and combat capability of the vehicle.
4. Lack of transparency in the project:
– An important point is the lack of information about the exact parameters of the car, which may indicate that the project is not yet finalized. Perhaps the car manufacturer is in a hurry to obtain government funding and force the purchase by the Armenian Ministry of Defense.
– The project may not meet the real needs of the army, but primarily the commercial interests of “Wolverine EADG” LLC, which undermines confidence in its prospects.
Comparison with analogues and military perspectives.
Tanks are an important piece of equipment for modern armies, especially for special forces. In the Azerbaijani army, these vehicles have proven to be reliable and versatile vehicles capable of performing various tasks, from transportation to fire support.
Comparing Armenian baghi with its counterparts, it is worth highlighting several major shortcomings:
– Weak engine: A 400cc engine and a top speed of 75 km/h are not enough for a vehicle intended to be used in combat, especially in difficult terrain.
– Lack of installed weapons: Currently, the Armenian version of the tank is not equipped with weapons, although the design has left room for their installation. This temporary lack of weapons significantly reduces the combat capability of the vehicle and limits its use in active combat operations until the necessary weapons are installed.
– Inadequate evacuation facilities: The lack of stretchers and other devices for evacuating the wounded severely reduces the effectiveness of the vehicle in real combat situations where emergency evacuation is required. This limits the use of the bag in military environments where maneuverability and the ability to quickly assist the wounded are important.
Results
The AM Technologies military vehicle project looks crude and underdeveloped in its current state. The use of Chinese civilian components, the lack of basic technical characteristics and the lack of preparation for military tasks make the bag ineffective for combat use. At this stage, the project looks more like an attempt to embezzle state funds than a serious initiative to strengthen the army’s combat capability. Until these shortcomings are corrected, the bag is unlikely to be able to compete with its analogues used in other armies and will remain only a symbolic step on the road to rearmament.
