MZKT

MZKT (МЗКТ or МЗКЦ, Belarusian: Мінскі завод колавых цягачоў, Russian: Минский завод колёсных тягачей, Minsk Wheel(ed) Tractor Plant (MWTP)) is a manufacturer of heavy off-road vehicles, especially military trucks, based in Minsk, in Belarus;^[1] it was formerly a division of MAZ. MZKT civilian trucks are branded VOLAT^[2] (Belarusian: волат, literally means Giant). MZKT specializes in the production of on-road and off-road heavy-duty vehicles and trailers for them, as well as special wheeled chassis for installation of various equipment for enterprises and transport organizations of the construction, oil and gas and engineering industries.

MZKT

MZKT entrance building
Industry	Armored vehicles, heavy trucks
Founded	23 July 1954
Headquarters	Minsk , Belarus
Website	www.mzkt.by

Assembly shop

History

 

1999 Belarus stamp set commemorating MAZ.

In 1954, MZKT, the Minsk Wheeled Tractor Plant, was founded to develop artillery tractors; it then developed a series of heavy weapons transporters for the military of the USSR, including heavy offroad trucks such as the MAZ-537 and MAZ-7310.^[3] It was a division of Minsk Automobile Plant (known as MAZ). In 1991, MZKT was spun off into a separate company; its former parent, MAZ, continues to make a broader range of heavy vehicles.^[4]

In 1992, military orders slowed, and MZKT attempted to adapt its products to civilian uses, such as mining trucks and crane carriers.

In 2020 it was said that the MZKT was the primary supplier for the chassis of such Russian army vehicles as the launcher for the Topol-M because the domestic Russian products are of comparatively low quality.^[5]

Products

Many post-independence MZKT trucks continued to use a MAZ cab which resembled the Iveco Turbostar [it] cab;^[6] starting in 2010 these were replaced with Belkarplastik cabs which resembled the 5th generation Isuzu Forward, which are also used by Yarovit trucks.^[7] The civilian brand of the group Volat manufacturers tractor trucks, ballast tractors and trailers for transportation and commercial use.^[8]

Military vehicles

MZKT-6922

 

MZKT-6922 Tor

MZKT-6922, used with Tor and other surface-to-air missile systems.^[9]

MZKT-79221

• MZKT-79221 transporter erector launcher for the Topol-M missile; a successor to the MAZ-7917, which was, in turn, a successor to the MAZ-547^[10]

•  
  MZKT-79221
•  
  Dmitry Medvedev standing with MZKT-79221 Topol-M

MZKT-7930

 

MZKT-7930 with 9K720 Iskander

The MZKT-7930 "Astrolog" is carrying the Iskander ballistic missiles,^[11] and the Pantsir-S1 air defense system, and radars for the S-300 missile system. Also Uragan-1M MLRS.

MZKT-74135/74295

MZKT-74135 8x8 tank transporter^[12]

•  
  MZKT-74135 transporting a T-72
•  
  MZKT-74295 transporting a BMP-2

MZKT-490100

MZKT-490100 armored vehicle used with four ready-to-launch Shershen ATGMs or with the Groza-S jamming system.^[13]

•  
  MZKT-490100
•  
  MZKT-490101-010 during the "Armiya 2020" exhibition

WS2400

Main article: WS2400

 

Wanshan WS2400 TEL with DF-11 SRBM.

Some trucks made by Wanshan Special Vehicle, in China, are based on MZKT designs; the WS2400 is based on the MAZ-543.^[14]

Volat V2

 

Volat V2 at Milex-2021 exhibition.

Volat V2 APC (MZKT-690003) with 2A42 30mm autocannon and other weaponry was first presented at Milex-2021 exhibition.^[15]

Volat (civilian vehicles)

Trucks

• MZKT-79086, 12x12 oilfield truck^[16]
• MZKT-7429, 8x8 offroad tractor^[1]
• MZKT-790976, 8x8 oilfield truck^[17]
• MZKT-75165 8x8 tipper^[18]
• MZKT-741320, ballast tractor^[19]
• MZKT-741600, ballast tractor^[20]

Trailer

• MZKT-900110 (2 axles, 29T)
• MZKT-900130 (2 axles, 36T)
• MZKT-937800 (2 axles, 56T)
• MZKT-5247D0-010 (2 axles, 50T)
• MZKT-998670 (2 axles, 70T)
• MZKT-720200 (3 axles, 45T)
• MZKT-999453 (3 axles, 46T)
• MZKT-998910 (3 axles, 50T)
• MZKT-820100 (4 axles, 63T)
• MZKT-837200 (4 axles, 65T)
• MZKT-999451 (5 axles, 64T)
• MZKT-999450 (6 axles, 73T)^[21]

•  
  MZKT-65151
•  
  MZKT-7004
•  
  MZKT-7401
•  
  MZKT-730240 (port tractor)
•  
  MZKT-700300
•  
  MZKT-750440

International sanctions

On 17 December 2020, MZKT was added to the sanctions list of the European Union.^[22][23] The United Kingdom and Switzerland have also sanctioned the company.^[24][25][26]

In 2022, the plant, its director Aliaksei Rymasheuski and deputy director Aliaksandr Vetsianevich were included in the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List of the United States,^[27] as well as in the sanctions lists of the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Ukraine. In addition, Japan has imposed sanctions against the MZKT.^[28][29][30]

On April 19, 2024, the U.S. State Department imposed sanctions on MWTP pursuant to Executive Order 13382, which targets proliferators of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery. The State Department statement read: "[MWTP] has worked to supply special vehicle chassis to Pakistan’s long-range ballistic missile program. Such chassis are used as launch support equipment for ballistic missiles by Pakistan’s National Development Complex (NDC), which is responsible for the development of Missile Technology Control Regime Category (MTCR) I ballistic missiles."[1]

See also

• Neman - the bus subsidiary of MZKT.^[31]
• KZKT - A similar, now defunct, Russian company
• BelAZ
• KrAZ
• MAZ

References

1. "Go-anywhere, do-anything MZKT/VOLAT specialist trucks on Biglorryblog. Magnificent monster machines from Minsk! - Biglorryblog". 22 March 2009. Retrieved 29 August 2012.
2. "ЦАМТО / / МЗКТ выпустил новый балластный тягач МЗКТ-630240-010 в тропическом исполнении для инозаказчика". Armstrade.org. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
3. . Archived from the original on 12 November 2011. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
4. "Minsk Wheeled Tractor Plant (MZKT)". Retrieved 14 August 2011.
5. Ferris, Emily (12 January 2023). "Could Russia's Reliance on Belarus be its Soft Underbelly?" (PDF). The Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies.
6. "Biglorryblog and who used the old Iveco TurboStar cab....? The Brochure King rides to the rescue! - Biglorryblog". 23 March 2009. Retrieved 29 August 2012.
7. "MZKT - 700650 (Commercial vehicles)". 2010. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
8. "The history of the Volat brand. Design features of the mzkt model". oborudow.ru. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
9. Kopp, Carlo (May 2011). "Point Defence System Vehicles". p. 1. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
10. "Mighty MAZ and MZKT 12x12 missile carriers...or should that be tippers? Only Vladimir could deliver such behemoths to Biglorryblog". 22 May 2008. Retrieved 29 August 2012.
11. "Iskander (SS-26 Stone) Short-Range Ballistic Missile". Retrieved 14 August 2011.
12. "MZKT-74135 Tank Transporter". Retrieved 14 August 2011.
13. "Belarus parades new armored vehicles on Independence Day military parade 2018 | July 2018 Global Defense Security army news industry | Defense Security global news industry army 2018 | Archive News year". Armyrecognition.com. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
14. "Wanshan WS2400 (8 x 8) heavy-duty off-road vehicle (China) - Jane's Military Vehicles and Logistics". Retrieved 14 August 2011.
15. Показан новый бронетранспортер МЗКТ-690003, он же Volat V2. Первые фото и новые подробности
16. "Monster MZKT oilfield truck! Vladimir is back on Biglorryblog with a real bang! - Biglorryblog". 21 January 2009. Retrieved 29 August 2012.
17. "Big Russian oilfield trucks...the mighty MZKT makes a welcome return to Biglorryblog thanks to Vladimir!". 13 February 2008. Retrieved 29 August 2012.
18. "More mighty MZKT Russian trucks on Biglorryblog. And how much scow end do you need?". 26 December 2007. Retrieved 29 August 2012.
19. "MZKT-741320, ballast". www.mzkt.by. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
20. "MZKT 741600 facelift (Commercial vehicles) - Trucksplanet". www.trucksplanet.com. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
21. "Trailers and Semitrailers". mzkt.by. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
22. Jozwiak, Rikard (17 December 2020). "EU Officially Slaps More Economic Sanctions On Belarus Over Crackdown". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. from the original on 21 July 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
23. "Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2129 of 17 December 2020 implementing Article 8a(1) of Regulation (EC) No 765/2006 concerning restrictive measures in respect of Belarus". EUR-Lex. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
24. "Consolidated List of Financial Sanctions Targets in the UK" (PDF). Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation HM Treasury. 25 June 2021.
25. Shields, Michael; Liffey, Kevin (7 July 2021). Liffey, Kevin (ed.). "Swiss widen sanctions list against Belarus". Reuters. from the original on 7 July 2021. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
26. "Sanctions program: Belarus: Verordnung vom 11. Dezember 2020 über Massnahmen gegenüber Belarus (SR 946.231.116.9), Anhang 1 Origin: EU Sanctions: Art. 2 Abs. 1 (Finanzsanktionen) und Art. 3 Abs. 1 (Ein- und Durchreiseverbot)" (PDF). Staatssekretariat für Wirtschaft. 7 July 2021. (PDF) from the original on 7 July 2021. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
27. "U.S. Treasury Targets Belarusian Support for Russian Invasion of Ukraine". United States Department of the Treasury. 24 February 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
28. "Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant (MZKT)". National Agency for Prevention of Corruption.
29. "RIMASHEVSKIY / RYMASHEUSKI Alexey Ivanovich". National Agency for Prevention of Corruption.
30. "VETENEVICH / VETSIANEVICH Aleksandr Petrovich". National Agency for Prevention of Corruption.
31. "ОАО "Лидские автобусы «Неман" вошел в структуру ОАО "МЗКТ"".

External links

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to MZKT vehicles.

• MZKT product listing
• Volat Defense
• Review in the Russian Journal of Motor Vehicles
• Overview of vehicle manufacturers in Belarus