VEPR

For other uses, see Vepr (disambiguation).
VEPR
TypeArmoured personnel carrier
Place of originUkraine
Service history
In service2006
Production history
DesignerKremenchuk Automobile Assembly Plant
Designed2002
ManufacturerKremenchuk Automobile Assembly Plant
Unit cost$50,000–250,000
VariantsHunter, Commander, C
Specifications
Mass3.56 t and up depending on the armour
Length5.3 m
Width2.5 m
Height2.1 m
Crew5-9
Armor10 mm. D6, D7 class
Engine4-cylinder 3.9-liter diesel
Payload capacity2 t
Drive4x4, 18–20-inch wheels
TransmissionIveco manual
Suspensionindependent
Ground clearance300–600 mm, adjustable
Operational
range
Fuel consumption per 100 km: city: 14 L highway: 11.5 L
Maximum speed 140 km/h

VEPR (Ukrainian: Автомобіль Високо-Ефективної ПРохідності (Avtomobil Vysoko-Efektyvnoyi PRokhidnosti) is a Ukrainian multi-purpose off-road vehicle designed and assembled by the Kremenchuk Automobile Assembly Plant. (The name is a pun:Ukrainian: Вепр, wild boar.)

The designers' goal was to create an SUV-type vehicle which would have the same terrain ability traditionally reserved for larger cargo vehicles, such as the KrAZ and Ural. The patent has been received for the passenger-cargo vehicle.

The per-unit price of the VEPR is estimated to be between $50,000 and $250,000.

Description

Fuel consumption is said to be modest for a vehicle of this size, with 14 liters per 100 km in urban areas, and 11.5 liters per 100 km on highways. This makes the VEPR more fuel-efficient than the smaller Hummer.[1][2]

Standard modification includes:

  • Adjustable pressure tires for use on all terrains
  • A/C and heat independent of the engine
  • Drum brakes of closed type, for harsh temperatures and driving over ford crossings, can clear up to 1.5 meter water level
  • Stainless steel frame and parts
  • BTR-94 wheels [3][4]

Variants

  • VEPR-K "Commander" (ВЕПР-К «Командир»)
  • military armored variant
  • extreme off-road, civilian unarmored variant. It is said to be targeted at the American Hummer SUV.[5] photo
  • VEPR-K "Sport" (ВЕПР-К «Спорт») - unarmored rally car, at least one was made in 2013[6] photo
  • VEPR-M "Hunter" (ВЕПР-М «Мисливець») - Fully enclosed unarmored cab-forward truck photo
  • VEPR-S "Special" (ВЕПР-С «Спеціальний») - fully enclosed cab-forward multi-purpose armored vehicle with «Кольчуга» passive sensor or «Мандат-Б1Е» electronic countermeasure system. Only 15 were made. Not produced since May 2011[7] photo

Production

At least 10 vehicles have been produced for the Siberian Tyumen and Yakutiya regions, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan until 15 March 2006.[8]

Operators

Map of VEPR operators in blue

Current operators

  •  Georgia - 1 VEPR-S "Special" since May 2008[9]
  •  Greece - 1 VEPR-S "Special" since May 2008[9]

References

  1. ^ (in Russian) VEPR Parameters Archived October 9, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ (in Russian) В Киеве представлен первый украинский бронированный внедорожник // Podrobnosti news agency March 13, 2006
  3. ^ (in Russian) Interview with a director of VEPR, LLC. Vladimir Ivanovich Pilipenko Archived 2012-02-18 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ (in Russian) VEPR Production Article[dead link]
  5. ^ Commander SUV targets hummer, Autoexpressnews (February 15, 2007)
  6. ^ В Киеве презентовали раллийную версию кременчугского внедорожника «Вепр-К» // "Кременчуг online" от 24 апреля 2013
  7. ^ "директор Кременчугского АТП-15356 Владимир Пилипенко прекращает собирать панцирные автомобили «Вепрь», оборудованные «кольчугами». Последний, совместно со своими коллегами, соберет в мае на «Николаевском заводе бронетранспортеров» и все — на этом история кременчугских бронированных автомобилей высокоэффективной проходимости, на которые устанавливали «кольчуги», или более современные «МАНДАТ 1 БЕ» должна завершиться... Всего удалось выпустить полтора десятка таких комплектов"
    Бронированных "Вепрей" в Кременчуге больше не будут собирать // "Новости Украины" от 31 мая 2011
  8. ^ (in Russian) Украинский автомобиль ВЕПР - Steer.ru (March 15, 2006)
  9. ^ a b Греция и Грузия обзавелись кременчугскими «Вепрями» // "Кременчуг online" от 26 мая 2008