Photos: Defense Express
According to the report, Skiff is a direct result of lessons learned from the operation by the Armed Forces of Ukraine of M113-family armored personnel carriers, of which a total of 1,497 have been received as donations from 10 countries (675 of them have been lost, according to Oryx). Despite the heavy losses, Ukrainian soldiers reportedly praised the already very old design. That is why a new-generation vehicle was developed, but based on a similar design concept.
It is worth adding that, until now, UkrArmoTech had been involved in the design and production of wheeled armored vehicles of various classes. While many wheeled armored vehicles have been developed in Ukraine since the outbreak of the full-scale war with Russia in February 2022, Skiff is the first tracked vehicle to have been built “in metal” (Ukrainian company UkrArmoTech tests Giurza-03 and Desna vehicles).
Skiff is to have a crew of three: commander, driver, and weapon station operator, seated in the front section behind the powerpack compartment. The rear section houses a troop compartment for eight fully equipped infantry soldiers. As emphasized, the modern modular design will make it possible to develop specialized variants of the vehicle in the future.
The vehicle’s hull is made of armored aluminum, marking the Ukrainian defense industry’s first experience with this material, although it is not ruled out that, due to problems with this raw material, the company may develop an armored-steel version for serial production. However, differences in the weight of the materials will affect the vehicle’s characteristics, so they will likely require design changes. At present, the combat weight is estimated at 15 metric tons.
Image: UkrArmoTech
Skiff is powered by a 360 hp diesel engine coupled to an automatic transmission. Ballistic protection meets NATO Level 4 requirements under the STANAG 4569 standard for the front of the hull and Level 3 for the sides and rear, while mine protection is rated at Level 3a/3b, meaning up to 6 kg of TNT under the tracks and hull. The armament of the basic version provides for the integration of a remotely controlled weapon station with a 12.7 mm to 14.5 mm machine gun and a coaxial 7.62 mm machine gun.
The vehicle is equipped with communications, navigation, situational awareness, electronic warfare, air-conditioning, CBRN protection, and other systems from leading Ukrainian companies that are partners of UkrArmoTech. All parameters and equipment can be adapted to customer requirements. It is estimated that, at the start of serial production, around 60% of components will be imported, with gradual Ukrainianization expected in the future.
The purpose of the factory tests of the Skiff tracked armored personnel carrier prototype is to practically verify the maturity of the new platform concept, as well as its operational characteristics and mobility. The maximum permissible loads will be applied.
The company also has expectations regarding possible exports, both of Skiff and other vehicles in its portfolio, particularly to Middle Eastern markets.
Video: UkrArmoTech via Facebook