ATOM 8x8

The ATOM is a wheeled modular infantry fighting vehicle jointly developed by the Russian Defense Company and the French Company Renault Trucks Defense (RTD). The ATOM was unveiled for the first time during the defense exhibition RAE 2013 (Russian Arms Expo) in Nizhny Tagil, Russia. With this new vehicle, the Defense Industry of Russia would like to develop new combat vehicle able to rival with armoured vehicles manufactured in Europe and United States. The ATOM has been designed to cover the full spectrum of combat missions in the modern battlefield. The common chassis can be used to offer a wide range of combat vehicles as troop carriers, command vehicles, combat electronic vehicle, combat engineering and recovery, and fire support platforms, mounting various weapon systems. This 30-tonne combat vehicle incorporates all the experience of UralVagonZavod in the area of armoured hulls and armaments. UVZ is the world-famous builder of the Russian T-90 main battle tank. RTD, the French mobility specialist (VBCI, VAB, Sherpa), is supplying the power train for this 8x8 designed to offer all-terrain mobility equivalent to that of a tracked vehicle. The two companies have worked together to propose the most open, evolutionary architecture. Cooperation between RTD and UralVagonZavod was launched in February 2013 at the last edition of the IDEX exhibit in the United Arab Emirates. Today this partnership has resulted in this initial project, which aims to replace the BTR-80s in service in the Russian Army.