Russian army to receive new heavy tractor trucks Platforma-O


The Russia military will receive new Platforma-O heavy tractors to replace those produced by the Minsk Wheel Tractors Plant (MZKT Volat), according to a military source. The newest Platforma-O family of heavy wheeled transporters designed by JSC Kamaz and produced by the JSC Remdizel Plant was unveiled at Army 2018 defense exhibition near Moscow in August 2018.


Russian army to receive new heavy tractor trucks Platforma O 925 001
Platforma-O 8×8 transporter in live demonstration at Army 2018 International Military Technical Forum that was held near Moscow in August 2018. (Picture source Army Recognition)


"The newest Platforma-O family of heavy wheeled tractors designed by JSC Kamaz and produced by JSC Remdizel Plant has successfully passed through its state trials, and an adoption order is being drafted. The Platforma-O tractors will officially enter service before the year-end," the source said.

The Russian military is planning to receive five vehicles, namely, 8x8, 12x12 and 16x16 heavy transporters with payload capacities of 25 t, 50 t, and 85 t, respectively, an 8x8 semi-trailer with a towing capacity of 165 t, and an 8x8 ballast tractor with a towing capacity of 400 t.

"The members of the Platforma-O family feature an 86% level of unification," the source said.

The 12x12 and 16x16 tractors will be used as transporter erector launchers, while other vehicles will carry various support systems. "The military will fully switch to the new chassis within ten or fifteen years," the source said. According to him, the Aerospace Forces, the Land Forces, and the Navy and the Strategic Missile Forces are interested in the Platforma-O tractors.

The Russian military heavily relies on the wheeled tractors produced by the MZKT. The RVSN widely uses the MZKT-79221 16x16 heavy tractor, while the Iskander-M (NATO reporting name: SS-26 Stone) tactical missile system and the Bastion (SSC-5 Stooge) and Bal (SSC-6 Sennight) mobile coastal defence missile systems are mounted on the MZKT-7930-family 8x8 transporters.