Results of Performance Trials for the WUAP AFV

						                         _Војна Тајна_
								///Секретаријат за народну одбрану генералштаб///
					               ///Министарство одбране Красна Вольный///

(Remarks translated into English for manufacturer's reference)
										January 2022 - March 2022


Overview:
	The Border Troops of Krasny-Volny have long been equipped with legacy vehicles type BTR-70 and BTR-60PB. By 2022, many of these vehicles were unserviceable and were in the process of being transferred by the Ministry of Defense to local steel enterprises for their value in scrap. Accordingly, the Border Troops have issued a requirement for a new wheeled vehicle platform (designation: BTR 2022) capable of being configured for armored transportation, active fire support, and recovery services. This vehicle type must be amphibious, have six to eight wheels, and a basic layout resembling those of the legacy vehicles already in service, with which personnel are familiar.

	Since January, the Wheeled Universal Armored Platform (WUAP) from the Kingdom of Nachmere has been undergoing trials to determine the extent of its technical capabilities and ability to adapt to local conditions. This report prepared by the Ministry of Defense and the Secretariat of the General Staff relays our findings and recommendations per the possible future procurement of this vehicle.

	~ Potpukovnik Zivan Nikitin
	 Border Troops of Krasny-Volny

Technical performance:

The WUAP was evaluated by engineers from the Army Workshops and mechanics from various detachments of the Border Troops. The basic technical requirements of the BTR 2022 platform were:

- Road speed exceeding 100 km/h (MET)
- Off road speed exceeding 40 km/h (EXCEEDED)
- Operational range exceeding 450 km (EXCEEDED)
- Independent amphibious capability (MET)
	Speed in water tested at 8-10 km/h.
- Run flat tires (MET)
- Powerplant requirement diesel eight-cylinder developing at least 600 hp (MET)
- Suspension requirement independent suspension, preferably one easier to replace than torsion bar (MET)
- Central tire pressure regulation system (MET - the engineering staff were especially impressed by this feature)
- NBC overpressure system (MET)
	NBC system was tested with exposure to a variety of potential biological contaminants, and performed satisfactorily.

The three most important requirements for the chassis were a new suspension easier to replace than seized or damaged torsion bars, heavy duty run flat tires, amphibious capability, and a diesel engine developing at least 600 hp.

It is the opinion of the evaluation staff that the WUAP outperforms the BTR-70 and BTR-60PB in all four of these points. Amphibious capability is much improved, the suspension is much more easily maintained and replaced, and the use of a diesel engine is a much-needed departure from the flammable petrol-powered engines of Soviet vintage used in most of Krasny-Volny's wheeled APCs.

Protection:

The WUAP was also evaluated for its armor capabilities, and the much-touted protection package by Schwerpunkt Arms was thoroughly investigated to determine if it stood up to the claims in the catalogue. The basic requirements of the BTR 2022 platform were:

- Ability to resist 7.62x39mm and 7.62x54mm armor-piercing rounds fired at all angle of attack (MET)
- Ability to withstand direct impact from 12.7mm rounds along the vehicle's frontal arc (MET)
- Ability to withstand 130mm artillery shrapnel at 20 meters from impact (MET)
- Active protection system with jamming resistant qualities (MET)

The WUAP is much more heavily armored than the BTR-70 and BTR-60PB. It was the opinion of the evaluators that the vehicle's baseline armor package is sufficient for Krasny-Volny's purposes, and that additional bolt-on armor was not needed, given the nature of threats the Border Troops are likely to encounter.

The use of additional armor makes the WUAP almost twice as heavy as the BTR-70, at 23 metric tonnes. However, the effectiveness of the much more powerful engine and suspension has ensured the extra weight has not compromised mobility; during trials the older vehicles simply could not keep up with the WUAP derivatives on the proving ground.

***While the WUAP's hull protection performed well against simulated anti-personnel mines and light explosive devices, the evaluation staff wishes to note that they cannot guarantee that the hull would survive a blast from an anti-tank mine such as the TM-62, which is especially common in countries like Krasny-Volny where past conflicts have been fueled by this Soviet mine type. While a deep "vee" shape may not be possible for the bottom of the hull due to the vehicle's layout, the bottom armor plates could be welded into a shallow "vee" to better deflect the force of an anti-tank explosion and increase the survivability of the embarked troops.***

Armament:

Two armed variants of the WUAP were evaluated: one in an APC configuration and a second in a fire support/IFV configuration. The third variant received from Schwerpunkt Arms was a recovery vehicle and was not evaluated by armorers.

The basic requirements of the BTR 2022 platform in the IFV configuration were:

- Large smoothbore cannon capable of firing both armor-piercing and high-explosive rounds (MET)
- Turret-mounted co-axial machine gun (MET)
- At least six external smoke grenades (MET)
- Electrical turret drive to increase reaction time and reduce crew fatigue (MET)
	Turret must be capable of making a 180 degree rotation within twenty seconds (MET)
- Modern fire control system with thermal imaging (MET)
- Fire on the move capability (MET)
- Ability to carry 30 main gun rounds and 2,000 rounds of co-axial MG ammunition (MET)
- Ability to carry at least seven embarked troops (MET)

Evaluation staff were very impressed by the size and modularity of the main armament.

The basic requirements of the BTR 2022 platform in the APC configuration were:

- Turret-mounted heavy machine gun (NOT MET)
- Turret-mounted co-axial machine gun (NOT MET)
- Electrical turret drive to increase reaction time and reduce crew fatigue (N/A - see above)
- At least six external smoke grenades (MET)
- Fire on the move capability (N/A - see above)
- Ability to carry at least 500 rounds of heavy MG and 3,000 rounds of co-axial MG ammunition (N/A - see above)
- Ability to carry at least seven embarked troops (MET)

***Evaluation staff did not evaluate the WUAP's baseline armament in the APC configuration favorably, noting it is not an improvement over preexisting vehicles. The BTR-70's fully enclosed turret was rated as being far superior to the single ring-mounted machine gun featured on the WUAP. A member of the crew would have to expose himself or herself to enemy fire to operate this weapon, meaning to provide a modicum of protection the end-user needs to modify the current setup at their own expense. However, the excellent modularity of the WUAP platform means that this could be modified, potentially at the factory by the manufacturer, according to the individual wishes of the end-user.***

Conclusion:

It is the conclusion of the evaluation team that the Wheeled Universal Armored Platform is an extremely effective and modular platform, able to be adapted for a wide variety of roles.

In its IFV configuration, the WUAP will complement the Border Troops in their role as the first line of defense against external threats by land, able to engage both unconventional forces as well as conventional opponents, perhaps equipped with light armor and heavier weapons of their own. The WUAP IFV is effective at destroying the armed reconnaissance forces of a forward invasion force, and engaging in self-defense against heavier threats, including second-line or older tanks, as a last resort. It can provide fire support for the more lightly armed vehicles of the Border Troops, as well as dismounted infantry, during search and destroy operations.

In its fitter configuration, the WUAP will complement any of the existing vehicles utilizing the same platform well. To simplify logistics, the evaluation staff recommends a number of these be purchased at a fixed ratio to other WUAP-vehicles, which will be determined in the event the vehicle type is accepted for service.

In its APC configuration, the WUAP retains the inherent advantages of the platform but currently lacks the firepower needed to fill the niche in Krasny-Volny's doctrine. The evaluation staff recommends that if this vehicle is accepted into service, it receive a fully enclosed, one-man turret armed with at least a heavy machine gun and a co-axial machine gun.

The only shortcoming of the WUAP platform is its possible vulnerability to Improvised Explosive Devices and land mines, especially the cheap and ubiquitous Soviet anti-tank mines which proliferate in Krasny-Volny and elsewhere. While acknowledging that the WUAP is a light armored vehicle not designed to combat the latest anti-tank mines or heavy IEDs, more protection could be offered for the crew and embarked passengers in the event the bottom hull armor plates of the vehicle were redesigned into a shallow "vee" - deflecting some of the blast power. While this would not guarantee against a mobility kill, it would increase the survival rate of personnel.

The recommendation of the Secretariat of the General Staff is that the Ministry of Defense immediately procure a number of WUAP IFVs according to the requirements of the Border Troops, along with corresponding number of WUAP recovery/fitter vehicles, and investigate the possibility of a more heavily armed and turreted APC.