Vietnamese engineering vehicles are as strong as Russia's in Zapad-2017

In the Zapad-2017 exercise, in addition to heavy weapons, Russia also used IMR-2M - a heavy engineering vehicle in the equipment of the Vietnamese Army.

Zapad-2017 exercise takes place from September 14-20. To participate in this exercise, Russia and Belarus can mobilize more than 12,000 soldiers, including about 3,000 troops of the Russian Armed Forces, 280 military equipment and 25 Russian fighter planes.

However, according to Western sources, Zapad-2017 could mobilize up to 100,000 people and a larger number of weapons than Russia announced. Along with that, NATO is also concerned that the heavy weapons Russia deployed in Belarus could be used in the exercise and this could put the Baltics in danger.

IMR-2M engineering vehicle in Zapad-2017 exercise

It is known that right before appearing at Zapad-2017, the IMR-2M engineering vehicle was also sent by Russia to Syria for a mission. According to Livejournal, the Syrian Army is in dire need of heavy engineering vehicles to support combat for armored units.

Syrian soldiers are now using armored bulldozers, excavators and automatic loading machines to support dangerous construction or engineering operations on the battlefield.

In particular, according to the Swedish International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the Vietnamese Army is currently equipped with a small number of IMR-2M engineering vehicles. This is a heavy engineering vehicle specifically used to destroy obstacles, built on the chassis of the T-72A tank.

IMR-2 is designed to ensure the smooth movement of military units through destroyed areas in areas affected by nuclear weapons, minefields and explosive obstacles, and when necessary can also be used for search and rescue operations.

Capacity for filling ditches and preparing access roads: 350 - 360 m3/h; capacity for digging tunnels: 200 - 250 m3/h; capacity for preparing overpasses with slopes up to 6 m high: 350 - 400 m3/h; capacity for loading and moving soil and rocks: 15 - 20 m3/h. Crane capacity: 2,000 kg; maximum crane radius: 8 m.

Vietnam's IMR-2M engineering vehicle.

The mine-clearing equipment installed at the rear of the vehicle includes a left-right guide with mine decoys. The multi-purpose bulldozer blade can help the IMR-2 perform the following roles: plow, placer and digger (bulldozer). The operating tower mounts a 7.62 mm PKT machine gun; in addition, the vehicle is also equipped with an automatic fire extinguishing system and smoke grenades.

The gripper arm is considered the most important part of the IMR-2, helping this engineering vehicle to successfully complete its road-clearing mission. The gripper arm is capable of picking up and holding small objects the size of a matchbox (such as radioactive material) and can perform the operations of a grab, scoop, scoop, and lever.

"While operating during Zapad-2017 and in Syria, the IMR-2M will support the T-90, T-72, T62 and Type 59 main combat vehicles in training and combat operations. The IMR-2M engineering vehicle has demonstrated its combat potential in conflicts in Afghanistan and Chechnya.

According to Dat Viet Newspaper