The first fully-amphibious infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) on the basis of the Kurganets-25 (Object 695) platform will be supplied to the troops for test operation in 2019. the Russian Defense Company Kurgan Machine-Building Plant (SC Kurganmashzavod) has signed state contracts to deliver low-rate initial production batches of these vehicles. The IFV prototypes are being prepared for comprehensive trials before the adoption of the platform. The new Kurganets-25 (Object 695) fully-amphibious infantry fighting vehicle (IFV), designed for the Airborne and Ground Forces of Russia, was unveiled at the Moscow Victory Day Parade in May 2015. It is used to transport infantry squad to the battlefield and to provide direct fire support against enemy vehicles. Full-scale production of the vehicle is expected to begin in 2016.
The Kurganets-25 will gradually replace all existing Infantry Fighting Vehicles in the Russian military. The Kurganets is a new platform designed and developed by the Russian Defense Company Kurgan Machine-Building Plant to create a new family of light tracked armoured vehicle. The Kurganets-25 could replaced the BMP Infantry Fighting Vehicles family currently in use by the Russian armed forces. In January 2014, the Russian Ministry of Defense has announced that the Russian army ground forces plan to renew 70% of its fleet with new armoured and main battle tanks for 2020. Russia will acquire the new main battle tank Armata, the wheeled armoured Boomerang and the new infantry fighting vehicle Kurganets-25.
The vehicle’s armament suite consists of a Shipunov 2A42 dual-feed 30 mm automatic cannon with an ammunition load of 500 rounds, a Kalashnikov PKTM 7.62 mm coaxial medium machine gun with an ammunition load of 2,000 rounds, and two twin Kornet anti-tank guided missile launchers in a remote-controlled weapon station (RCWS). The ATGM can penetrate explosive reactive armour between 1,100mm and 1,300mm, while its firing range varies between 150m and 10,000m. The commander and the driver can control the RCWS. With the integration of sophisticated computer technologies, the station tracks a target and engages it automatically. Both ammunition load and weapons are isolated from the crew. The engine compartment is in the front, right part of the vehicle. The Kurganets-25 has a crew of three and can carry up to eight soldiers.
The armoured combat vehicle incorporates an Afghanit active protection system (APS), which provides protection against anti-tank guided missiles as well as rocket-propelled grenades. Occupants are protected from a variety of threats from the modular armour systems. The passive armour protection, nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) protection kit, and smoke grenade dischargers aboard the vehicle provide improved crew survivability. Power for the Kurganets-25 infantry fighting vehicle comes from an 800hp turbocharged diesel engine coupled to a transmission system. The vehicle can run at speeds up to 80km/h on highways and has a range of approximately 500km. Two water-jets are fitted at the rear section, enabling the vehicle to perform amphibious operations. The Kurganets-25 can travel at a speed of 10km/h on water.
