Lost Ukrainian combat prototype Azovets found in Russian-occupied Mariupol
The missing prototype of the Azovets combat vehicle was discovered in Russian-occupied Mariupol. The Security Service of Ukraine investigated the embezzlement of funds allocated for its development. However, the prototype was stolen from the manufacturer's plant, and its whereabouts remained a mystery for years.
The Azovets is a Ukrainian combat vehicle prototype built on the chassis of a T-64 tank. The original turret and armament were removed, and the weight saved was utilized to enhance the vehicle's armor. This included additional armor plates and the Duplet reactive armor, a two-layered variant of the Knife armor.
Rather than featuring a single turret with a cannon, the Azovets chassis was equipped with two remotely controlled modules. Each module had a GSh-23 23mm caliber gun, a 7.62mm PKT machine gun, and two Korsar or Stugna anti-tank guided missile launchers.
In conceptual terms, the Azovets appear to replicate the development idea of the Russian BMPT Terminator vehicle.
Developed in 2015, the Azovets, like many prototypes, encountered various problems. These issues were related, among other things, to imperfections in sensors to the extent that cameras from intercoms were utilized. Despite its slightly exceeding 88,000 pounds, the vehicle boasted significant protective capabilities.
Its combined armor, along with reactive armor, was capable of stopping not only certain anti-tank guided missiles but also some older models of tank gun-fired projectiles.
Russian Propaganda Success
Amidst scandal and investigations against its developers, the Azovets disappeared before the Russian attack—stolen from its manufacturing plant in Kyiv. Their discovery was facilitated by local residents of Mariupol, who revealed the prototype's hiding place to the Russians.
The vehicle's condition is likely so compromised that it cannot be deployed in combat. Nevertheless, its discovery, especially the details surrounding its theft and long-term concealment, has provided ample material for the Kremlin's propaganda efforts. This narrative highlights not only the find of rare equipment but also the backstory of its mysterious disappearance years earlier.
