VPK-7829 Bumerang
Bumerang IFV
TypeInfantry fighting vehicle
Armoured personnel carrier
Tank destroyer
Place of originRussia
Production history
DesignerMilitary Industrial Company LLC (VPK)
ManufacturerArzamas Machine-Building Plant[1]
Produced2015–present
No. builtNo serial production as of 2022
Specifications
Mass34 tons
Length8.805 m
Width3.187 m
Height3.185 m (At the top of the sight)
Crew3 (+7–8 passengers)
ArmorSome form of ceramic
Main
armament
Bumerang IFV: Bumerang-BM remote weapon station turret with 30 mm automatic cannon 2A42, 9M133 Kornet-EM anti-tank missiles, and PKT 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun or AU-220M Baikal remote weapon station with 57 mm BM-57 autocannon and 7.62mm PKMT machine gun[2]
Bumerang APC: 12.7 mm machine gun remote turret
EngineBarnaulTransMash[3] turbocharged diesel UTD-32TR
510 hp[4]
Suspensionwheeled 8×8
Operational
range
800 km (500 mi)
Maximum speed 100 km/h (62 mph)

The VPK-7829 Bumerang (Russian: Бумеранг, 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.[5][6]

History

In the early 1990s, the BTR-90 was developed as a replacement for the BTR-80 in the Russian Army. While it was a moderate improvement in armament, protection, mobility, and internal space over its predecessor, it all came at the cost of greatly increased unit price. It wasn't accepted into service (except in small numbers) as the modest increase in performance wasn't seen as enough justification for its cost and complexity. Purchases of the BTR-80 stopped in 2010 and the improved BTR-82 was obtained as a stop-gap measure. In mid-2011, the Russian Ministry of Defense issued a requirement for a new modular wheeled family of armored vehicles instead of buying the BTR-90. Development of a new wheeled APC is being done alongside the new and similarly armed and armored but tracked Kurganets-25 infantry fighting vehicle and heavy T-15 Armata IFV.[7][8]

In November 2011, media reports said the new project had been approved. On 21 February 2012, Colonel General Alexander Postnikov said that the Russian Army would be taking the first deliveries of the Bumerang prototype in 2013. Large-scale deliveries are to begin in 2015. At least 2,000 Bumerang vehicles are to replace the BTR-80 and BTR-82/A in Russian service.[7][8][9]

The Bumerang was first seen in public (initially with its turret and cannon shrouded) during rehearsals for the 2015 Moscow Victory Day Parade.

However, the vehicle faced several delays in both preliminary and state trials. In 2015 it was reported that the Bumerang had first entered preliminary trials and would enter service by the year's end. By 2018 it was reported to still be undergoing trials that would be completed within the year.[10]

In 2020 it was stated that state trials of the platform will be finished in 2021, with production starting afterwards. The reason for the delay was that after preliminary trials in 2019, it was decided to make changes to the main body, as a result of which the conditions for soldiers in the troop compartment would be improved, as well as the vehicle's buoyancy.[11]

In April 2023, it was reported that state tests of Bumerang vehicles had begun at military training grounds, with seven vehicles in total participating in the testing. It was stated that these tests are scheduled to finish by the end of 2023, after which mass production could begin.[12]

Design

Bumerang IFV
Rear view of the Bumerang with the two waterjets visible

MIC claims it “will be nothing like any of the modern APCs.” The Bumerang vehicle will be based on Armata Universal Combat Platform. It will 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. Like BTRs, the Bumerang will be an 8×8 wheeled vehicle, and will be equipped with a 750 hp turbocharged diesel engine.

Armament

Several components and subsystems will be interchangeable between the Bumerang APC and Kurganets-25 IFV, and both vehicles will be powered by the same engine.[7][8][13] There are two versions of the Bumerang 8×8 vehicle: the K-16 armored personnel carrier (APC), lightly armed with a 12.7 mm machine gun in a small remote turret; and the K-17 infantry fighting vehicle (IFV), heavily armed with the Bumerang-BM RWS with a 30 mm cannon and Kornet-EM anti-tank missiles or AU-220M with 57 mm BM-57 autocannon and 7.62mm PKMT machine gun.[14]

Front Armor protection vs 30mm -- All round Armor protection 14.5mm

Variants

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.[7] Further versions could include a light tank[13] (plans to create a version with 57 mm autocannon as well as version with a 125 mm gun for use as a self-propelled anti-tank gun were confirmed in March 2018)[15] and a self-propelled gun.[9]

  • BTR-7829 K-16 Bumerang – APC version with a remote weapon station with a 12.7mm heavy machine gun.
  • VPK-7829 K-17 Bumerang – IFV version with 30 mm or 57 mm autocannon.
  • Self-propelled anti-tank gun version – Similar to the Centauro, one of which had been previously leased to Russia.

Operators

See also

Comparable vehicles

References

  1. ↑ "Бумеранг". militaryrussia.ru. Archived from the original on 3 October 2017. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  2. ↑ "Cloud from shrapnel: how controlled ammunition will strengthen the power of Russian armored vehicles". tellerreport.com. Archived from the original on 16 October 2018.
  3. ↑ "ОАО Барнаултрансмаш - дизели Д6 Д12, дизель-генераторы, судовые дизели, электроагрегаты, ДГУ, ДРА, ГПА". www.barnaultransmash.ru. Archived from the original on 20 May 2017. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
  4. ↑ ""Черный Бумер" 8х8 ("Бумеранг" (ВПК-7829): настоящий танк на колесах - Колеса.ру". Archived from the original on 8 May 2017. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
  5. ↑ "K-17 Bumerang 8x8 Boomerang IFV Infantry Fighting Vehicle". armyrecognition.com. Archived from the original on 20 October 2018.
  6. ↑ "K-17". Archived from the original on 25 October 2018.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Bumerang Archived 4 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine – Military-Today.com
  8. 1 2 3 Bumerang [Boomerang] Archived 31 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine – Globalsecurity.org
  9. 1 2 Russian Army to Get Boomerangs in 2013 Archived 31 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine – En.Ria.ru, 21 February 2012
  10. ↑ "Предварительные испытания платформы "Бумеранг" завершатся в 2018 году". РИА Новости (in Russian). 25 May 2018. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  11. ↑ "State tests of the newest armored personnel carrier "Boomerang" will be completed in 2021". Ria Novosti.
  12. ↑ "Источник: начались госиспытания БМП и БТР на платформе "Бумеранг"". военное.рф (in Russian). 4 April 2023.
  13. 1 2 First prototype of the Russian wheeled armoured personnel carrier Boomerang will be ready for 2013 Archived 31 August 2013 at the Wayback Machine – Armyrecognition.com, 7 July 2012
  14. ↑ New version of Russian K-16 and K-17 Bumerang were unveiled during military parade in Smolino Archived 5 August 2016 at the Wayback Machine – Armyrecognition.com, 2 August 2016
  15. ↑ Russia to create self-propelled antitank gun on Boomerang platform Archived 7 March 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Army Recognition. 5 March 2018.
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