At the start of the new year, enterprising defense nerds on the internet uncovered pictures of strange, vaguely demonic-looking tanks pummeling the Ukrainian frontline. That hellish-looking machine was the Russian BMR-3MA “Vepr.” It was designed to do one thing: clear minefields and develop safe passages through contested areas for ground forces and more vulnerable vehicles to follow through. 

The Vepr is built on the chassis of a T-90A main battle tank (MBT) and is a product of Uralvagonzavod, a subsidiary of the Russian defense firm Rostec. Weighing approximately 51 tons, the vehicle is powered by a four-stroke, multi-fuel V-84MS diesel engine producing 840-horsepower, enabling a maximum road speed of 33 miles per hour, with a range of 342 miles, and an average cruising speed of 23-31 mph. 

Russian Designers Have Learned to Care About Their Soldiers’ Lives

In a remarkable move—at least for Russian military doctrine—the engineers at Uralvagonzavod built the Vepr around the prospect of enhancing the safety of the crew. Thus, the Vepr features a welded armored cabin constructed from rolled steel sheets, replacing the tank’s turret. 

The cabin houses a crew of two—a driver and commander—and can accommodate three additional sappers for demining missions. Furthermore, the Vepr’s armor is enhanced with

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