The Ukrainian Novator armored vehicle, operated by the National Police rifle battalion, has demonstrated high survivability in combat conditions. During a mission in eastern Ukraine, the vehicle was targeted by an FPV drone, which resulted in a fire. Despite critical damage and the blaze, the armored vehicle managed to cover about 20 kilometers, successfully delivering the personnel to their deployment site and keeping the entire crew alive.
Combat record of the armored vehicle
According to the manufacturer, Ukrainian Armored Technology, this specific Novator unit had been in active service for four months. During this period, the vehicle completed about 100 combat and logistical missions, delivering fuel, batteries, and other necessary supplies to frontline units. Throughout its service in high-intensity combat, the armored vehicle withstood hits from ten FPV drones.
Technological survival features
Experts note that the vehicle's ability to maintain mobility after receiving combat damage is largely due to design solutions integrated into the platform. Specifically, Novator vehicles are equipped with a Run-flat system, which allows the vehicle to maintain mobility even in the event of tire damage and critical pressure loss. This incident marked the end of the vehicle's service life, as it was subsequently declared destroyed; however, it fulfilled its primary mission of protecting and evacuating personnel in full.
Development of armored vehicles in Ukraine
The experience gained from using the Novator in real combat conditions is being incorporated into the design of new modifications. For instance, the second generation, Novator 2, equipped with a remotely controlled combat module of Ukrainian design, has already been unveiled. The industry notes that Ukraine is demonstrating significant progress in the design and production of armored vehicles, effectively competing with foreign analogs in terms of innovation implementation speed, although reliance on imported powertrains and transmissions remains a factor influencing the production cycle.
Significance of the incident for unit safety
The successful evacuation of the crew from a burning vehicle highlights the importance of using specialized armored equipment for logistical tasks in active combat zones. The Novator's ability to transport fighters to safety even after being struck by a drone is a critical factor given the dominance of FPV drones on the battlefield. Future developments in such systems will focus on increasing protection levels and integrating counter-UAV measures directly into vehicles.
