Military Horizons of «Mustang» Trucks

This week at «KAMAZ» Inc. there was held a meeting of the Interdepartmental Commission (IC) of the Ministry of Defense of Russia. A family of «Mustang» trucks was on the agenda. The Chairman of the Commission was Sergey Mayev, a Colonel-General heading the Head-Quarters of Armored Troops of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.

On 15 December 2003, the members of IC met with Sergey Kogoghin, Director General of «KAMAZ» Inc., and Danis Valeev, Chief Designer of «KAMAZ» Inc. Later on that day, there took place the first session of «KAMAZ» and the joint Defense Offices committee, which is functioning on a regular basis. The target of this committee is to develop, improve, and manufacture vehicles to meet needs of the Army, Ministry of Emergency Situations, Federal Security Department, frontier and interior forces. During that session there were discussed the issues of inspection and approval of designers’ documentation for KAMAZ-4350 (4x4-wheel arrangement), KAMAZ-5350 (6x6), and KAMAZ-6350 (8x8) trucks. Due to introduction into their design of other constructive changes there was also considered the possibilities to power the above trucks with a new generation of KAMAZ-740.31–240, 740.30–260, and 740.50–360 engines and power units. «Mustang» trucks have been developed, assembled and upgraded with the help and active participation of the army experts. As a result, about two-thirds of «Mustang» components and parts have been replaced and finished.

«KAMAZ» informed the army experts about the results of type tests of the above trucks. There were discussed future activities on quality improvement and life increase of various types of vehicles and their components. Danis Valeev, Chief Designer of the Company, indicated, that since 1998 «KAMAZ» has been successfully expanding the range of its «Mustang» family and it now includes 8 models. Apart from the above mentioned, there was also launched into production a KAMAZ-5350 chassis that make it possible to mount a wide range of various superstructures on it. There have been developed perspective models of KAMAZ-43501, -5450, -6450, and -5350 trucks with an armored cab.

Then Interdepartmental Commission continued its work at various sections, such as R&D;, Procurement and Logistics Department, Assembly and «KAMAZ-Diesel» Plants. The guests visited other plants of «KAMAZ» Inc. too, where they were demonstrated the new production facilities that have been put into operation within previous years, and also the exhibition of new and future KAMAZ heavy-duty trucks.

Summarizing the results of a three-day work, S. Mayev, Colonel-General and the Chairman of IC, confirmed that KAMAZ trucks have always been and still are the troop transport in the fleets of the Army and other military organisations in RF. «Having launched into production the first batch of „Mustang“, which is the most sophisticated and perfect model among the KAMAZ trucks», — he said, — "the Company has once again proved that it is the leading plant in the country with a high scientific-and-technical potential and technological possibilities. «KAMAZ» is doing its best to be both the top quality manufacturer and at the same time to meet the needs of the army and to help it to fulfil its tasks ".

The Interdepartmental Commission concluded that «Mustang» trucks meet all the technical requirements that have been assigned by the army and national standards; the vehicles can operate under any military environment; modernization has ensured their increased reliability and unification of parts.

Phasing-in of modernized «Mustang» chassis means that there will open much wider possibilities for development and introduction of new types of superstructures for mounting on the vehicles. That allowed to Colonel-General S.Mayev to say the following: «Our attitude towards „Mustang“ trucks has changed while carrying out their upgrading. If before we have considered them to be transportation vehicles only, now we think that they are a perfect basis for diversified superstructures.»

General Mayev announced that the Ministry of Defense has highly appreciated the services that «KAMAZ» Inc. has done to the Army by development of special military vehicles. By the Order of the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation Sergey Kogoghin, Director General of the Company, ahead of schedule has been awarded a military rank of a lieutenant colonel in the reserve. Having received a high appraisal of KAMAZ Inc.’s role, Sergey Kogoghin thanked the Commission and emphasized that: «It is impossible to buy or sell „KAMAZ“ Inc.: we have always been and doomed to be the state company with the controlling block of shares owned by the government. We have always been aimed at execution of the state orders and protection of its national interests».

Monday, 22 December 2003