Russia's Atlet Clears Anti-shelling, Anti-Blast Tests, to Enter State Trials in 2020

Russia's latest armored vehicle, the Atlet, is completing preliminary trials where its anti-shelling and anti-blast capabilities are being tested, and is scheduled to enter state trials in 2020.

"The Atlet is completing preliminary tests and the stage of state trials is scheduled to begin for it in the spring of next year. One prototype is currently in disassembly and will probably go for state trials. The second prototype will undergo tests for its resistance to shelling and explosions," Military Industrial Company told TASS on Wednesday.

Preliminary tests of the Atlet began early August. This involved evaluating the armored vehicle’s special-designation (ASN) and five-door multi-purpose (AMN-2) prototypes. They were also reportedly tested for their endurance in different terrains, with and without a 2.5 tonne trailer, operability at low and high temperatures and the fording capability.

The Atlet was unveiled at the Army-2019 Forum, held just outside Moscow, in June of this year. In their standard configuration, the vehicles provide ballistic protection, and are equipped with anti-trauma seats for all the crew members. The armoured vehicle features lifting capacity of up to 1,600 kg and anti-mine resistance raised to 2 kg in TNT equivalent, YaMZ-5347-24 Russian-made diesel engine with the maximum capacity of 240 hp, and an air conditioning system.