The Russian Land Force is to receive the newest RKhM-8 chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) reconnaissance vehicle this year, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced in April.
“The Land Force is set to receive more than 1,500 combat vehicles … including the modern RKhM-6 and RKhM-8 CBRN vehicles,” the MoD’s press department said.
The RKhM-8 is the latest Russian CBRN vehicle and is based on the chassis of the AMN-233114 Tigr-M 4x4 armoured utility vehicle. A spokesperson for state corporation Rostec told Jane’s on 18 April that the RKhM-8 was designed by the Tula Plant (JSC Zavod Tula; a subsidiary of Rostec’s holding Roskhimzashchita).
He said the RKhM-8 was integrated with an automated command-and-control (C2) system. “The vehicle transfers gathered information via the C2 system and radio link to command posts,” the spokesperson added.
The vehicle detects gamma radiation sources and radiation directions, and “identifies toxic agents in the air, on the field, and on military vehicles,” he said. The RKhM-8 is capable of express identification of biologically pathogenic agents. It would transport other chemically, and radiologically contaminated samples to specialised laboratories, said the spokesperson, noting that the vehicle has been fitted with an automatic meteorological sensor.
The RKhM-8 CBRN reconnaissance vehicle pictured at the Army 2019 defence show. (Dmitry Fediushko)
The RKhM-8 is 5.7 m long, 2.7 m wide, and 2.9 m high. It is manned by three crew and conducts CBRN reconnaissance at a speed of up to 20 km/h in rugged terrain and up to 50 km/h on the road. The RKhM-8 weighs 7.9 tonnes and can be operated at temperatures between –50°С and 50°C.
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