Ovod [Gadfly]

The armored vehicle was created by specialists of the Zhytomyr Armored Plant and is based on the proven GAZ-66 chassis. It was presented for the first time at the "Arms and Security - 2015" exhibition.

The fighting in the Donbass showed the ineffectiveness of the existing armed with armored personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles in the local environment. For example, these vehicles have difficulties crossing water barriers, and their armor is poorly protected from modern mines. Soldiers do not want to be insidee armored personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles, as in the case of destruction they do not have time to get out and can burn alive.

Zhytomyr Armored Plant SE affiliated with Ukroboronprom State Concern have developed a brand-new promising concept of mass production of light armored vehicles and weapons. Ovod (the Gadfly) is the name given to the new development of the Concern experts, which was presented at the 12th International Trade Fair "Arms and Security 2015" that took place Sept. 22-25. The subject of the concept is production of kits of armored modules of rapid mounting (installation takes 35-40 minutes) of various functionality. Modules may be installed on all types of all-terrain chassis (GAZ-66, ZIL-131, URAL-375, MAZ) and the chassis of foreign production equipped with diesel engines.

It is noted that the main advantage of this design is versatility, possibility of rapid transformation, adaptability to manufacture, and the possibility to organize large-scale production. According to preliminary estimates, Zhytomyr Armored Plant SE is able to produce over 1,100 units per year.

Theoretically, "Ovod" can take on board a landing force of up to 12 people, with a crew of 2 people. There is an option to install a 12.7 mm machine gun on the roof of the landing compartment. But "Ovod" did not go to the series production. One of the problems of this armored vehicle is the very uncomfortable places for the crew, which made it much more difficult to use this technique in combat conditions.

In 2022, a unit of the Armed Forces of Ukraine used a rare "Ovod" armored vehicle, which exists in one copy, in battles against the Russian occupiers.