Ukraine Skif

[Infanteer]

Ukraine's version of the Armoured Combat Support Vehicle - an updated M113.

Ukraine’s M113-Inspired Armored Personnel Carrier In Testing

Ukraine is working to provide its own APC solution after years of war have eroded its donated and original fleets. With its M113-inspired Skif, Ukraine is doubling down on tracked armored vehicles despite heavy battlefield losses.

www.twz.com

 

[KevinB]

Interesting, the only really significant external change is the front glacis plate geometry.

I guess forgoing the amphibious ability and easy access to the engine for additional armor and potentially better obstacle climbing.

 

[FJAG]

I see a number of improvements which make it an interesting vehicle.

First and foremost is that it has tracks due to combat experience with the conditions of Ukraine. Rural Germany and I expect much of Wester Europe is the same. I'm still a fan of tracks. Using proven technology and existing manufacturing greatly increases the reliability and ability to bring system to the units. Same for the ramp and door system which looks identical.

I like the driver, commander, gunner stations - putting the commander directly behind the driver increases control in time of comms difficulties and having the weapon station to the side probably makes more space available for dismounts and cleanly separates the fighting module from the dismount module. 8 is a decent number for dismounts in a vehicle as small and low as the M113.

I like the RWS station. While they talk GPMG and 12.7mm it looks to me like a wide variety of systems could be incorporated here. It would be interesting to know how strengthened that part of the roof is for heavier weapons like 25 or even 30mm.

I like the two crew hatches on the back. They look a bit more secure and useful than our large hatch which you wouldn't want to open or close while moving..

I find the track shrouds interesting. We always dumped all ours. OTOH, I wonder how much they could add to creating some standoff for UAV or even RPG strikes

Shows what wartime innovation can bring about. We got a half a century of service out of our fleet. There's a lot of solid engineering in the design that can be built on.