Ukrainian manufacturers ready to fully provide AFU with light armored vehicles, cost of which is 30-50% cheaper than imported ones - UKR ARMO TECH director Hennadii Khirhii

Ukrainian manufacturers are able to fully meet the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other law enforcement agencies in light armored vehicles, which amounts to several thousand units each year. The cost of a Ukrainian serial MRAP armored vehicle (a wheeled armored vehicle with enhanced mine protection) is 30-50% lower than its foreign counterpart. Taking into account the cost of logistics and maintenance of foreign equipment, this difference can double.

Hennadii Khirhii, the director of UKR ARMO TECH, a company- leading national manufacturer of armored vehicles, has noted this in a column for UP.

"It is worth limiting the unjustified diversity of light wheeled armored vehicles in the Armed Forces of Ukraine by refusing to import while simultaneously focusing on domestic production. In wartime, it is difficult to maintain quality lines consisting of dozens of identical models of equipment from different manufacturers. Where the Poles, Czechs or Germans have three or four models, we have 30 or more. In Ukraine, since March 2022, more than 110 models of automotive equipment have been allowed to be used in the Armed Forces of Ukraine," the head of the manufacturing company noted.

Hennadii Khirhii noted that the use of domestic armored vehicles "will contribute to our technological self-sufficiency," because dependence on foreign suppliers makes Ukraine "vulnerable in conditions of foreign political turbulence."

"Foreign equipment requires a special approach to maintenance, special tools and qualified specialists trained abroad. It is designed with other theaters of war in mind, which does not always correspond to the specifics of combat missions in Ukraine. At the same time, Ukrainian designers take into account local factors: landscape, climate, features of combat use," the expert noted.

Hennadii Khirhii emphasized that the refusal to import in the segment of light wheeled armored vehicles will reduce costs and improve repair service.

According to him, the ideal logistical shoulder for MRAP repair is 100 km from the front line. At this distance, the manufacturer's technical hub or mobile services with qualified repair teams, spare parts and equipment should be located. The entire line operated on a certain section of the front can be serviced there.

"Mobile repair teams of UKR ARMO TECH, which supplies armored vehicles to almost all state customers, service up to 70% of the equipment on site. A typical repair of a vehicle takes several days. Up to a third of the vehicles require maintenance at base capacities. Therefore, we are able to maintain the combat readiness of all the supplied equipment," noted Hennadii Khirhii.

According to him, the gradual narrowing of the lines will allow us to build optimal logistics, maintenance and repair systems along the front line.

"Ukraine must invest in its own production, technologies, jobs and service infrastructure. Refusing to purchase foreign armored vehicles in favor of domestic production is a strategically correct decision. It will allow Ukraine to save money and increase the level of technological independence," emphasized the head of the UKR ARMO TECH company.