The SVOS Perun Light Strike Vehicle is a tactical armored vehicle fully designed and developed by Czech Company SVOS spol. s r.o The tactical armored vehicle was developed to address the specific requirements of the Czech Army’s elite 601st Special Forces Group based in Prostejov. The project of the Perun was started six years ago and at IDET 2017. The Perun was fully designed and developed by the Czech Company SVOS to offer a new 4×4 light tactical vehicle which can be configured to perform a wide range of missions. Its Perun is a deliberate push to capture a market that, in terms of scale, remains vast and underserved.
The powerpack comprises a 6Y 106 TD21 six-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine with an output of 240 kW at 2,200 rpm, producing a maximum torque of 1,300 Nm at the 1,200-1,600 rpm range, which is coupled to a 6 HP 602 S+ six-speed automatic gearbox and enables the vehicle to reach a maximum road speed of 110 km/h and range of 700 km. The company claims that it can accelerate to 80 km/h within 30 seconds. The standard chassis has a steerable front axle, but a version with steerable front and rear axles for improved manoeuvrability is also available. The vehicle will be equipped with 395/85 R20 run-flat tires and features a central tire inflation system.
The vehicle has a length of 6.03 m, a width of 2.3 m, and a height of 2.6 m – with a 3.8 m wheelbase and 1.97 m track width – excluding the spare wheel and roof accessories. The Perun is air transportable via the C-130 Hercules medium airlifter. Ground clearance can be adjusted from 315 to 415 mm within 90 seconds even when the vehicle is travelling. The vehicle can negotiate a 22° side slope and can cross a 0.85 m wide trench, and is also able to overcome obstacles up to 0.55 m in height. It can also ford waters up to 1.2 m deep without preparation, although this can be increased to 1.5 m if a raised engine air intake is installed.
The latest version of the Perun was tailored according to the new requirements of the Czech Army Special Forces, the latest version of the Perun Special Forces showed at IDET 2019 has a new armor to increase protection against ballistic and mine threats. The PERUN can carry a total of 6 special forces, with driver and commander at the front, three people in the middle and there is one more seat at the rear. The body of the vehicle is removable, composed of steel sheets which can be reinforced with removable ballistic and mine blast protection at a desired STANAG 4569 level. The vehicle can be armed with 12.7 mm machine gun or a grenade launcher in a circular ring mounted on the top of the superstructure, and with up to four 7.62 mm machine guns mounted at the front, on each side and at the rear.