Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense has approved distribution of the locally-made Varan multi-role buggy for the armed forces.
The high-mobility platform was designed and produced by an unnamed Ukrainian company based on the military’s specific speed, maintainability, off-road, and stealth requirements in personnel transportation, patient evacuation, and ammunition supply deployments.
It features a two-seat capacity, a rigid frame for complex environments, a 500-kilogram (1,102-pound) payload limit, and a 300-kilogram (661-pound) towing capability.
The vehicle is fitted with a turbo-diesel engine, five-speed automatic transmission, and corresponding automotive components sourced from international manufacturers.
The Varan has a range of 200 kilometers (124 miles) on rough terrain and a speed of more than 100 kilometers (62 miles) per hour on sand.
Ukrainian Military’s Expanding Ground Fleet
Before the Varan’s authorization, Ukraine approved the supply of a domestically upgraded armored personnel carrier to its military, which was first developed during the Soviet era.
The government also oversaw the supply of Swedish Pansarbandvagn 302 carriers to the armed forces in August. The fleet was sourced via the military aid announced by the Nordic country in May in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
In August, the Ukrainian Armed Forces were seen operating the Mbombe 6 mine-protected armored combat vehicle, which was specifically produced in response to the heightened security risk in Eastern Europe.
Simultaneously, the Ukrainian defense agency approved the supply of another mine-protected vehicle, the Buffalo, for its warfighters.