Member of 72nd Brigade for Special Operations of SAF on the combat armored vehicle „Milosh“
Published on 13 December 2024, on the telegraf.rs portal.
Author: Ljubinka Račić Đokić
The drivers, i.e. the personnel operating these vehicles, had to pass very specific training in operation and basic maintenance.
- It has been rigorously tested. Featuring exceptional maneuvering capabilities and ballistic protection, it is also mine-resistant and rightfully bears the title of the pride of the domestic defense industry. Units of the Serbian Armed Forces are proud to use Miloš – a 4x4 combat armored vehicle, as it significantly upgraded their operational capabilities.
It is one of the most advanced materiel introduced in the service of the Serbian Armed Forces (SAF).
- The length of the vehicle is 5.7 meters, the width is 2.5 meters, and the height with the remotely controlled weapon station is 3.4 meters. The vehicle can speed up to 110 km/h, and in the more demanding maneuvering conditions up to 30 or 40 km/h – says a member of the special force unit of SAF for Telegraf.rs.
It accommodates a crew of 8 members: driver, commander, RCWS operator, radio operator, and four members of the special anti-terrorist unit of SAF.
- Due to its technical performance, the vehicle is highly maneuverable. Thanks to the independent suspension system, the 4x4 drive formula, and the 0.41 m ground clearance, the vehicle can overcome various terrain conditions. Also, it can negotiate a 0.9 meter deep trench, and up to 0.5 meter high vertical obstacle – our interviewee explains.
This is a multipurpose vehicle, and is used for various missions: surveillance and joint military police patrols, transport and fire support in special unit operations, border and land control, or as a command vehicle used in anti-terrorist and anti-riot combat; it is being produced as an ambulance vehicle, as well.
- Introduction of this vehicle in the units of the Serbian Army, the end user, has significantly upgraded the operating capability of these units, increasing the personal safety of the users, i.e. the crew, to a much higher level – says the member of 72nd Brigade for Special Operations of SAF.
The ballistic protection is modular, which means that the ballistic panels can be replaced anytime if needed elsewhere. That is particularly important when the panels are damaged during a mission since the damaged panel can be easily replaced with another one. The wheels have run-flat tires, which enable a damaged vehicle to continue driving to the nearest service point, speeding up to 50 km/h – the speaker says to Telegraf.rs.
And that is not all. Milosh is mine-resistant, due to the anti-mine protection on the bottom side, and it has ballistic windows, as well.
- In the rear part of the vehicle, in the embarkment area, there are five gun-ports intended for defense from the ambush attacks. The gun-ports are installed next to the side windows, and one on the rear embarkment door. It has been rigorously tested. Not only did it pass all kinds of quality tests, but it has since then earned the title of the pride of our defense industry, and we bear witness to this – explains the member of SAF.
The vehicle intended for employment of support units is equipped with a remotely controlled weapon station – RCWS. It is operated from inside the cabin, by an operator following the orders from the crew commander.
- The RCWS is operated using electronic controls, a joystick, and computer software connected to the weapon station. The RCWS is coupled with a 12.7 mm machine gun, capable of laying in elevation within the range of -7 to +50 degrees, with rate of fire of up to 600 rds/min, maximum range for the aerial targets of 1,500 meters, and for the ground targets up to 2,000 meters. The effective range of fire in daylight is up to 1,300 meters, and at night is 1,000 meters – explains the interviewee of Telegraf.rs.
The vehicle is in the SAF units thanks to the cooperation with the company Yugoimport-SDPR, which has concluded several contracts for procurement, i.e. delivery of these vehicles.
- The first lot of the vehicles arrived in our unit, at this very location, in the year of 2021, and ever since then, it has been through intensive training and operation, proving the superb capabilities in various environmental and terrain conditions. The drivers, i.e. the vehicle operators, had to pass very specific training in operation and basic maintenance, after which they were certified by authorized institution, such as Yugoimport-SDPR. The company’s instructors were daily involved in the training process with the SAF personnel.
The numerical strength of Milosh vehicles owned by the SAF is not final.
- The vehicle is being constantly produced, and having in mind the superb performances it has shown so far, we plan to continue providing the SAF with these materiel, but also to export them to foreign markets.
(Telegraf.rs)
