The Tigr () is a Russian 4×4 multipurpose all-terrain infantry mobility vehicle manufactured by Military Industrial Company, first delivered to the Russian Army in 2006.

Primarily used by the Russian Armed Forces and Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs, it is also used by several other countries.

History

The Tigr was first shown at the IDEX exhibition in 2001. Pilot production started in 2004 with 96 vehicles. The Russian Army officially adopted the GAZ-2975 into service at the end of 2006. The vehicle was then officially manufactured in 2007.

China co-produced the Tigr with Russia after it initially refused to grant them a full license. One hundred ten Tigrs were delivered from 2008 to 2010 and are in service with the Chinese Public Security police. Some saw use publicly in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and in the 2009 Xinjiang riots.

Five Tigrs, fully assembled, were delivered with five more in kit form for assembly while 100 were assembled in China under Beijing Yanjing Motor Company. The contract was reported at the International Salon of Weapons and Military Equipment exhibition (MVSV-2008) in August 2008.China signs Tigr contract by Ted Parsons, September 07, 2008, Jane's Defense Weekly Yanjing Motor-made vehicles are known as YJ2080C and YJ2081C, the differences are the engines installed and the weight.

During the 2010 Interpolitex exhibition, MIC presented the upgraded version of Tigr-the VPK-233114 Tigr-M-with a new YaMZ-534 diesel engine, additional armour and an NBC protection system. This new Tigr-M entered service with the Russian army during the first half of 2013. Mass production and the export version have already been launched with a 205 hp engine.

Tigr armoured cars were reported to be among the AFV's deployed by Russia during its annexation of Crimea.

In early March 2015, OSCE inspectors spotted "a camouflaged Tigr-type armoured personnel carrier" guarding a DPR Checkpoint, close to the village Shyrokyne east of Mariupol."Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine based on information received as of 18:00 (Kyiv time), 3 March 2015" OSCE 4. March 2015

In 2011, "Rosoboronexport" has offered Azerbaijan to create a licensed production of armored vehicles on its territory.

Since 2015, Tigr vehicles are used by the Syrian Army in fight with opposition and extremist groups.

The Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant unveiled the Lis-PM (Fox-PM in English from Russian), a variant of the Tigr, in a public relations event on April 30, 2015. It's made from parts supplied from VPK-233136 Tigr kits. Parts made in Belarus are around 85 percent with plans to have the Lis-PM made with all the components made in Belarus. The vehicle was previously seen at the 7th International Exhibition of Armament and Military Equipment or MILEX-2014 event. They were then shown on May 9, 2015, in a Belarusian military parade.

BYMC announced on November 8, 2016, that an unnamed country has purchased 177 YJ2080s, winning its first export order.

In January 2017, Tigr-Ms entered service with the Russian Army mounting the Arbalet-DM remote weapon station (RWS). It can hold a Kord 12.7 mm machine gun carrying 150 rounds of ammunition or a PKTM 7.62 mm machine gun carrying 250 rounds. The module has TV and thermal imaging cameras allowing target identification out to 2.5 km and 1.5 km respectively, an integral laser rangefinder, and the ability to lock on and track targets. In the same month, Corvus Slovakia received their rights to manufacture and sell the Tigr.

In 2018, Streit Group has the rights to manufacture the Tigr as the Falcon, which debuted at the African Aerospace and Defence (AAD-2018) exhibition in September 2018.

As of May 2020, Tigr has been exported to 16 states and since 2005 over 2,000 vehicles have been built in various configurations and delivered to Russia and foreign countries. In July 2023, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu stated that the supplies of Tigr-M by Arzamas Machine-Building Plant had surged 2 times since early 2022.

During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Tigr was heavily used by the Russian forces. Some Tigrs used by the Russians in Ukraine are equipped with the Arbalet-DM RWS. Ukrainian forces have been using captured Tigrs. Tigrs with anti-drone systems were also unveiled at the 8th Russian military technical forum (Army 2022) event.

Design The vehicle was designed to transport troops and various equipment quickly on road and off-road. It has a chassis frame construction, with a traditional layout of front engine, middle crew compartment, and rear cargo area. Standard features include: power steering, independent all-wheel torsion suspension with hydraulic shock absorbers and stabilizer bars, a transfer case with a locking center differential, limited slip differentials, two-speed transfer case, automatic tire inflation, engine block heater, and electric winch.

The GAZ-233001 has optional air conditioning, stereo, electric windows, and an anti-lock braking system.

Armored versions of the Tigr feature ( for the SPM-2) heat-treated and stress-relieved armor plates. The Tigr can carry a half ton of cargo.

The available engines are a Cummins B180 turbodiesel with ; a Cummins B205 turbodiesel producing ; a Cummins B-214 turbodiesel making ; or a GAZ-562 turbodiesel with .

Designed for performance in mountain, arctic, and desert environments, the Tigr is capable of operating at ambient temperatures ranging from . Moreover, the vehicle has approach and departure angles of 52 degrees and a wading depth of .

Variants

Russian variants The Tigr has been produced in multiple variants.

GAZ-2975 GAZ-2975-A prototype unarmored three-door station wagon sport utility vehicle GAZ-29751 — 3—door wagon, GAZ 29752 — 5-door wagon designed to carry four people and from 500 to 1000 kilograms of cargo, GAZ-297533 — 2—door with tilt covered load platform. Russian

GAZ-2330 Standard unarmoured production variant GAZ-2330-Multipurpose unarmoured SUV, made in two and three-door versions GAZ-23304-Multipurpose unarmoured five-door wagon with rear hinged doors GAZ-233001/GAZ-233011-Multipurpose unarmoured four-door pickup truck GAZ-233002/GAZ-233012-Multipurpose unarmoured two-door pickup truck GAZ-233003/GAZ-233013-Multipurpose unarmored three-door SUV with a sedan body with optional undivided/divided interior

Tigr-2

Tigr-2, an experimental rebodied civilian style SUV, was presented for the first time in September 2006 at the Moscow Motor Show in the exhibition "Russian cars". Released in a small series from 2008, mainstream sales at dealers were planned to start in 2009 with the car available in two trim levels-luxury and regular.

The standard SUV is mechanically very similar to the military Tigr. It is packaged with a Steyr turbodiesel with or six-cylinder Cummins B205 with and is designed for speeds of up to .

With a weight of , the civilian Tigr-2 fuel consumption is 15 L/100 km. Its length is , its width and height is , and its ground clearance is . Compared with the military version, the civilian Tigr is lighter. The price was planned at $270,000/17,600,000 rubles.

SP46 In 2007, a ceremonial parade variant was designed, the СП46 (SP 46) ceremonial Tigr is a two-door convertible with a removable rigid roof. It features two seats in the front and one in the back, and is finished with modern luxury car appointments. This Tigr is equipped with an automatic Allison 1000 series transmission and Cummins B205 turbodiesel. Vehicle weight was reduced to , as this version is unarmoured.

In November 2008, a prototype of the parade Tigr was presented to the Minister of Defense Anatoly Serdyukov. Subsequently, three vehicles were ordered and used in the Victory Day parade on May 9, 2009, at the Palace Square in St. Petersburg and also at the 64th anniversary of Russia's World War II victory.

STS The CTC (English: STS) "Tigr" has a two-part opening and rotating cupola is installed on the roof, on which heavy machine gun(s) or grenade launcher are attached. The remaining crew can shoot out of the vehicle through side windows that can be opened. Optional equipped includes one-way portholes in the body or portholes in the armored glass windows. Inside the vehicle there are places for ammunition such as grenades etc., communication equipment and jammers. The interior has a sheathed hull with an anti-splinter coating made of aramid fiber. 4-stroke turbocharged diesel engine Cummins B 205. STS "Tigr" was accepted for supply to units of the General Staff of the Russian Federation by Order of the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation from March 6, 2007. The STS took part in the 2014 Crimean operation.

SPM-1 Специальная полицейская машина СПМ-1 (Special police car SPM-1) Tigr is used by the Russian Interior Ministry OMON in counter-terrorism operations and territorial defense. It is armoured, with IEC 50963-96 Class 3 side/rear protection and Class 5 frontal protection (GOST P 50963-96, level 1 corresponds to the STANAG 4569). The vehicle has accommodations for seven occupants including the driver. Early models permit the firing of personal weapons through one-way portholes in the body. In later models personal weapons can be fired through portholes in the armored glass. An automatic gun carriage can be fitted to the roof, along with radio signal jamming equipment.

SPM-1 AAV

The SPM-1 Aircraft Assault Vehicle is an SPM-1 fitted with a large remote-control hydraulic ladder system. It is designed to provide access to the second or third floors of buildings and aircraft.

SPM-2 "Tigr-Alpha-BB" Специальная полицейская машина СПМ-2 (Special Police Vehicle SPM-2) Tigr-Alfa-BB (Tiger-Alpha-VV) is an SPM-1 with GOST 50963-965 level 5 ballistic protection all around (instead of a mixture of level 3 and 5). Two additional glass hatches on the roof allow for the firing of personal weapons.

R-145BMA This variant is designed as a command center for special operations and crises. It is a SPM-2 Tigr fitted with extensive communications equipment.

Kornet-D

In 2011, the Tula Instrument Design Bureau demonstrated an upgraded Kornet-EM anti-tank missile system. Two such units were mounted on a modified chassis of the SPM-2 Tigr. The machine is equipped with two retractable launchers for 8 missiles and gunnery equipment (remote weapons control with screens to display images from the sighting systems), as well as 8 additional missiles. This anti-tank system tested at Kapustin-Yar. The missile complex when mounted on a Tigr is known as the Kornet-D, and it is meant to replace the 9P148 missile carrier. Deliveries started in 2015.

"Project 420" In early 2010, an improved Tigr armored vehicle with a 420-horsepower Cummins ISB and a Chrysler 545RFE automatic transmission was created. This engine/transmission combination was originally designed for a Dodge Ram pickup. Externally, the vehicle featured an additional air intake on the bonnet and enlarged brakes. Acceleration time to was reduced from 35 to 23 seconds compared to the standard version, and the top speed increased from to .

Tigr-M During the 2010 Interpolitex exhibition, the Multi-purpose Armored Vehicle (Ru: Автомобиль многоцелевого назначения (АМН)) AMN 233114 Tigr-M was presented by the Military Industrial Company. It featured a new YaMZ-534 diesel engine, a new armored hood, air filter installation, an increase in the number of rear passenger seats (from 8 to 9) and the replacement of the bicuspid rear hatch with a large square hatch. The M stands for Modernizirovanniy or Upgraded in Russian.

Currently, the Tigr-M is mass-produced and supplied to the Russian Army, including with the new Arbalet-DM remote control weapons station which is composed of 12.7mm Kord or 7.62mm PKTM machine guns.