Ukraine’s defense industry has introduced a new 4×4 tactical armored vehicle designed for frontline operations.
According to the Ukrainian defense outlet Militarnyi, the newly developed DESNA armored vehicle has been created by the private company UkrArmoTech as a direct response to battlefield requirements.
DESNA was built to meet the military’s need for a multi-purpose, high-mobility platform weighing up to eight tons.
The company said, “We have developed a prototype that, in our assessment, has the necessary level of protection, ergonomics, and functionality, and is expected to fit into the lineup of serial armored vehicles for our military.”
The vehicle features a modular design, optimized weight distribution across the axles, and a full-time all-wheel-drive configuration, enabling movement across difficult terrain.
Externally, DESNA resembles the French Arquus Sherpa and the South Korean KIA Raycolt KLTV, both widely used among NATO and allied militaries.
According to UkrArmoTech, engineers studied “the best examples from leading manufacturers used in armies around the world, as well as those used by the enemy on the battlefield” during the development of the vehicle. Company representatives said this approach helped shape the DESNA platform into a more practical, durable, and field-ready system.
The armored vehicle has now entered codification trials, one of the final stages before broader military evaluation. UkrArmoTech says DESNA is equipped with an automatic transmission, a reliable engine, and uses repair-friendly solutions already present in the company’s other serially produced vehicles.
While Ukrainian forces operate a wide range of armored vehicles supplied by partners—including MRAPs, light tactical trucks, and specialty engineering platforms—demand for locally manufactured, easily maintained military vehicles continues to rise due to sustained combat operations. The DESNA is intended to fill this gap with a more flexible, domestically supported alternative.
The company describes DESNA as an adaptable multi-role vehicle that could support a variety of missions such as troop transport, logistics, reconnaissance, command roles, and integration with remote weapon stations. As Ukraine’s military shifts toward more mobile, dispersed, and protected operations, designers emphasize improved crew survivability, simplified maintenance, and compatibility with existing Ukrainian production lines.
If DESNA completes trials successfully, UkrArmoTech expects the vehicle to enter full-scale production and become part of Ukraine’s long-term effort to expand its defense industrial base during wartime.
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