Russia’s state arms seller Rosoboronexport (part of Rostec) has started to promote the export of armored vehicles based on the latest VPK-7829 Bumerang combat platform, with their sales estimated at about $1 billion. Rosoboronexport added that countries of Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) have already displayed their interest in the Bumerang combat vehicle. The Bumerang combat platform has been developed on order from Russia’s Defense Ministry. As its unique advantage, the platform can be used as the basis to build the widest range of vehicles with various weapons and equipment.
The VPK-7829 Bumerang (Boomerang) is a modular amphibious wheeled infantry fighting vehicle and armored personnel carrier being developed by Russian Military Industrial Company (MIC) for the Russian Army. The Bumerang vehicle will be based on Armata Universal Combat Platform. It’ll be amphibious and be able to negotiate and overcome water obstacles using two waterjets. In a departure with the previous BTR (Like BTR-70) series of vehicles, the engine will be located in the front instead of the rear. Engine location was a significant drawback of BTR vehicles, where soldiers had to exit the vehicles through cramped side doors. The Bumerang has rear doors and roof hatches for troop entry and exit.
It will likely have a crew of three consisting of the driver, gunner, and commander and hold seven troops. Protection will come from ceramic armor and technologies to prevent shell splinters. The VPK-7829 Bumerang is referred to as “a combat wheeled vehicle” because it will serve several different roles, similar to America’s Strykers. Other vehicle platform variations will fulfill different roles in addition to armored transport, including as an armored ambulance, command post vehicle, reconnaissance vehicle, anti-tank missile carrier, air defense missile launcher, fire support vehicle, and mortar carrier.
