Ukraine Launches Serial Production of VOLS Combat Buggies to Equip Frontlines

In a significant development for the Ukrainian defense industry, Ukrainian Armor has commenced serial production of the VOLS military buggies, a major step toward equipping the front with agile, cost-efficient vehicles built specifically for combat conditions, Mezha.Media reported on August 21, 2025.

According to CEO Vladyslav Belbas, production capacities allow for output of several hundred vehicles per month, contingent on the presence of a state order. He underscored the pressing need on the battlefield: “There is a very large demand for this kind of vehicle at the front.”

Cost considerations remain central to the project. Belbas said that the serial VOLS buggy should not exceed $20,000, although exact pricing remains undetermined due to pending codification.

An in-depth review on the design and battlefield purpose of the VOLS machine:

• Low profile: With a vehicle height of just 1.4 meters and driver head height at 1.3 meters, the buggy remains a hard-to-detect target;

• Crew capacity: Designed for two people, maximizing simplicity, reducing exposure, and minimizing weight;

• Payload: Capable of carrying up to 300–500 kg, distributed across front and rear compartments, suitable for transporting supplies or evacuating wounded;

• Suspension & maneuverability: Built with high clearance and robust suspension to handle rough terrain aggressively—acting “like a combine harvester” through obstacles;

• Engine: Prototypes used a 1.9 L VW Golf turbo-diesel (115 hp), while serial production will employ a 1.5 L Renault K9K turbo-diesel—renowned for reliability and European manufacturing;

• Modular design: The engine assembly is modular for rapid field replacement—an entire unit (engine, cooler, gearbox) can be swapped by removing just four bolts;

• Low electronics: Designed with minimal electronics—only essential controls and mechanical gauges—to enhance battlefield survivability and ease of maintenance.

Earlier, it was reported that at the IDEF 2025 defense fair, Ukraine showcased two advanced combat drones—the modular Cetus-X loitering munition FPV carrier and the long-endurance Chaklun-B 2.0 UAV designed for logistics, reconnaissance, and ISR in contested environments.

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