The AMZ BÓBR-3 (BEAVER-3) is a light armoured reconnaissance transporter produced by AMZ-Kutno. “BÓBR” is also the Polish word for beaver. The light armoured vehicle was designed by AMZ-Kutno. The BÓBR-3 platform was a concept for a new, light reconnaissance vehicle serving as a next-generation replacement for aging, Soviet BRDM-2 vehicles, which are still in use with the Polish Army’s light armoured reconnaissance transporter units. Since the BÓBR-1 was designed, the Polish Ministry of National Defence (Ministerstwo Obrony Narodowej, MON) has released its requirements for the KLESZCZ (TICK) programme for new reconnaissance and amphibious vehicles, of which up to 244 were to be procured. Work on a prototype of the BÓBR-1 was launched in May 2012.
The BÓBR-3 Light Armoured Reconnaissance Transporter (Lekki Opancerzony Transporter Rozpoznawczy, LOTR) configuration has an intended weight of 15t, with a maximum possible of 16-16.5, including add-on equipment. Bóbr-3 has a 240kW diesel engine with automatic transmission and independent suspension. The length of the vehicle is 6.9m, height 2.38m, width 2.5m, with a 3.45m wheelbase and ground clearance of 0.4 metres. The weight of the base platform itself is 12-14t, depending on the installed armour and road range on paved roads is 600 kilometres. The vehicle is amphibious at its 15t weight. In a standard configuration, BÓBR-3 has a Level 2 and 3 (STANAG-4569) protection and is mine-resistant to Level 2A. Additional armour can be fitted in order to increase protection to Level 3, and AMZ Kutno plans to increase ballistic protection to Level 4.
AMZ-Kutno underscored the fact that the current variant is a base construction that, due to its modularity and adaptability, is a platform for various other specialist variants. The AMZ BÓBR-3 can use wheels of different sizes or can be equipped with various compartments, depending on the specific needs of the customer. Crew can range from four to five, it can carry six to eight fully-equipped troops in the armoured personnel carrier configuration and it can be also fitted with machineguns, or a 40 mm grenade launcher, and self-protection systems, such as the indigenously designed and produced OBRA-3 and SOL-2 laser warning systems. Thus, the configuration of a light armoured reconnaissance vehicle (LOTR) is only one of several available in the future.
AMZ Kutno is an automotive company based in Kutno, Poland, that has been operating since 1999. It specializes in the design and manufacture of special bodies for commercial vehicles. The company also produces a line of city buses and various military vehicles. AMZ-KUTNO is a privately-owned enterprise with high growth-potential, offering a wide range of services and products in accordance with professional quality-management systems. AMZ-KUTNO produces: Ambulances (transport, reanimation, accident and neonatology), Buses (up to 32 passenger seats), Money transportation vehicles, Armoured vehicles (DZIK and TUR) and other special vehicles (e.g. for energetic services, waterworks services, police services, city guards and armies).
