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Ukraine Tests “Skif”—A Tracked APC Designed for the Hardest Terrain
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Ukraine’s defense manufacturer UkrArmoTech has launched factory trials of a prototype tracked armored personnel carrier (APC) named “Skif,” marking the company’s first move into tracked combat platforms.
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According to Defense Express on April 20, the new vehicle reflects updated battlefield requirements сформulated by Ukraine’s Defense Forces based on operational experience during the war against Russia.
The outlet reports that the project aims to deliver a domestically developed alternative to legacy tracked platforms such as the US-supplied M113, which Ukrainian forces have widely used since 2022.
The Skif APC is designed to transport mechanized infantry and provide fire support in combat across varied terrain, including off-road conditions. The vehicle accommodates a three-person crew—driver, commander, and weapons operator—positioned in the front section, with space for eight troops in the rear compartment.
Troops exit via a rear ramp, and the platform is intended to serve as a base for multiple variants under a modular design concept.
According to Defense Express, the prototype features an aluminum hull—marking a first for Ukrainian-built armored vehicles in this category. However, the company is also considering a steel-armored version due to potential export restrictions on armored aluminum, which could require adjustments to the vehicle’s structure and mobility characteristics.
Factory testing is focused on validating the platform’s mobility, durability, and performance under maximum нагрузки, including dynamic stress testing of key components.
In its current aluminum configuration, the Skif is estimated to weigh up to 15 tons and is powered by a 360-horsepower diesel engine. The design allows for integration of different engine types while maintaining standardized mounting interfaces.
Protection levels are expected to meet STANAG 4569 Level 4 in the frontal arc and Level 3 on the sides and rear, with mine resistance rated at Level 3a/3b. According to Defense Express, the vehicle is designed to withstand explosions equivalent to 6 kilograms of explosives under the track or hull.
The APC can be equipped with remotely operated weapon stations, including configurations with a 12.7 mm or 14.5 mm machine gun paired with a 7.62 mm secondary weapon. The system also integrates Ukrainian-made communications, navigation, situational awareness, and electronic warfare systems, with configurations adaptable to customer requirements.
According to Defense Express, up to 60% of the vehicle’s components—such as the engine, transmission, suspension elements, and tracks—are expected to be imported in early production stages, with plans to gradually localize manufacturing.
UkrArmoTech CEO Hennadii Khirhii told Defense Express that the company based the project on direct feedback from Ukrainian troops and battlefield observations.
“Active combat operations in Ukraine have demonstrated the need for a significant number of armored vehicles to maintain mobility of units,” Khirhii said.
He added that while wheeled vehicles offer advantages in speed, tracked platforms provide better mobility in difficult terrain and increased resilience against battlefield threats.
“When it comes to maintaining mobility on difficult ground, mud, thaw conditions, tracked armored vehicles have significant advantages over wheeled ones,” Khirhii said. “The track is also more resistant to threats such as mines, artillery fragments, and small arms fire.”
Earlier, Ukraine significantly expanded domestic production of armored vehicles, with the Ministry of Defense sourcing nearly all procurements from local manufacturers over the past several years.
Industry representatives stated that Ukrainian-made vehicles are more cost-effective than foreign alternatives and that production capacity now exceeds current military demand, though output remains constrained by budget limitations.
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