Russia is developing an amphibious version of the EW system “Wave Cutter”, based on “Triton”

Russia is creating a radio-electronic reconnaissance vehicle (RER) and an electronic warfare (EW) vehicle based on the amphibious vehicle ‘Triton’, the developer of the ‘Wave Cutter’ system reports in an interview with RIA Novosti.

“We are making it (the EW vehicle – ed.) on the basis of the amphibious vehicle ‘Triton’, the prototype of which is being developed on the basis of the chassis of the LuAZ (Lutsk Automobile Plant – ed.). An extensive ‘Wave Cutter’ complex will be installed on the ‘Triton’, which will conduct not only radio interference, but also electronic reconnaissance,” the developer said.

The agency interviewee explained that the LuAZ chassis was chosen as a prototype because it is a durable all-terrain vehicle that can serve as a versatile amphibious and frontline transport.

According to him, installing EW and RER systems on such a chassis will enable monitoring of all frontline areas, including advancing units, evacuation groups, rotation areas, and so on, right on the frontline. In the future, this EW vehicle could also serve as a carrier for an FPV drone group.

The “Wave Cutter” EW system was presented for the first time at the military-technical forum “Army-2023”. It is designed in the form factor of a small cone (length – 484 millimeters, weight – 13 kilograms), which can be magnetically attached to military (tanks, APCs, boats, etc.) and civilian vehicles.

The main feature of this system is its modularity: the “Wave Cutter” is programmed with the frequencies necessary to suppress enemy FPV drones in real time on specific frontline sections. “Wave Cutter” operators can install new “cones” on their vehicles and customize their EW system to address specific threats.

Triton vehicle

Argo LLC engineers have begun creating an innovative amphibious all-terrain vehicle called the Triton, designed to quickly cross water obstacles. Inspired by the Soviet-era LuAZ transporter, this project promises to significantly improve the mobility and effectiveness of Russian military units and rescue services.

As for the relevance of Triton, Konstantin Bagdasarov, the company’s director general, told RIA Novosti that many parts of the defense line of the Russian armed forces in the special operations zone run along water obstacles. These obstacles represent natural barriers to the troops’ offensive actions and will have to be overcome in the future.

According to the agency source, the flood barrier can be overcome by building a bridgehead on the other side and creating crossings for larger equipment. He also stated that appropriate water transportation is needed to solve this problem.

The developer believes that transferring groups of fifty small amphibious vehicles with a crew of five fighter aircraft each, supported by aviation and artillery, to one of the water obstacle sections would be a successful alternative to crossing the river.

According to Bagdasarov, it is difficult to hit a large number of small targets, such as the ‘Triton’, at the same time. In addition, one of the advantages of the vehicle is the placement of the engine, which allows the amphibious vehicle to ‘jump’ into the water from a low cliff without losing its buoyancy. The loading capacity of the vehicle on water is 1.5 tons and on land one ton.

According to Bagdasarov, the development is aimed at military needs and civilian and emergency services due to its versatility and affordability. The price of the vehicle varies depending on the engine type: 2.4 million rubles (about 30,000 dollars) for the petrol engine version and 2.9 million rubles (about 36,000) for the diesel engine modification. This makes the “Triton” a cost-effective alternative to more expensive armored vehicles. For the price of one armored personnel carrier, 10 “Tritons” can be purchased.

Testing of the “Triton” should begin in May-July 2024. A prototype of the vehicle will be unveiled in April at the “Expotechnostrazh-2024” exhibition, and the completed vehicle will be unveiled in August at the “Army-2024” event. .

The developer emphasized that in the future, “Argo” plans to produce up to 500 “Tritons” annually.

“Why LuAZ?” The fact is that this vehicle has very fascinating technical solutions for off-road capabilities and durability established in the 1960s,” explains Bagdasarov.

He clarified that the 13-inch ‘wheels’ had side gears fitted, meaning there were additional gears on the sides to increase torque in addition to the primary gear. The developer decided this provides the off-road transportation features that designers strive for today.