All-wheel drive 8×8 MAZ-79111 designed in Belarus feels rather comfortable either on the road or in off-road conditions. It is equipped with a high-speed diesel engine V12 with included angle of cylinders 60°, its power is 650 hp which enables the vehicle to reach the speed of 80km/h.
Yes, military equipment should not be compared with civil one. Nevertheless, the same characteristics are typical for Ferrari cars (though MAZ does not have speed of 330-350 km/h). But can Ferrari overcome high snow of Belarusian fields with moats about three meters wide or Astrakhan steppes with up and down slopes of 35°? Besides, MAZ can be used in conditions of extreme temperature changes.
To travel along such “mud baths” MAZ is equipped with a tire pressure adjustment – it helps to reduce the pressure on the ground. It also has wide section tires, alloy wheels, a torsion bar suspension: you feel like in a boat slowly sailing in the calm sea.
What can make a driver happy? A comfortable cabin, stylish design and good climate control? Nope! It’s not required from a military car especially if it was designed in the 80s.
The vehicle has a minimum of necessary options, a heater, a fan and a sunscreen.
But what about sound insulation? The body of the MAZ cabin is made from polyester resin, which allows the driver to hear a heart beating of his car. Nothing else!
Initially “Smerch” was created as a weapon for the Supreme Commander of the USSR. It had to come into a battle only in especially dangerous moments. But today “Smerch” can hardly be called a multiple rocket launcher. It’s a different type of weapon.
It takes “Smerch” three minutes to get ready for a battle. The military vehicle manages to perform a lot of important operations for this time.
Twelve rockets, 800 kg each. At the flight range of 70 km, they cover an area of 40 hectares. Awesome, isn’t it? In 3-5 minutes the vehicle leaves the position which allows to avoid the attack of an enemy. Then it comes to a special place for charging and in 20-25 minutes “Smerch” is ready to fight again. If all the operations are properly organized and performed the vehicle becomes almost invulnerable.
In 1987 a new long-range system “Smerch” became the world most formidable weapon among non-nuclear ones.
via auto.onliner.by
Old weapon with fresh paint. Yawn.
I wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of payload, old or not.
Love the steering wheel!
Another of the many most awesome Russian off road vehicles!