Ukrainian manufacturer Validus unveils rescue and EOD vehicles at Interschutz trade fair

Ukrainian company Validus Special Auto showcased its lineup of specialized vehicles at Interschutz, the international fire and rescue equipment fair in Hannover. The machines on display are used daily by Ukrainian rescuers and bomb disposal specialists for complex operations and the neutralization of unexploded ordnance. According to the manufacturer, the company works closely with Ukraine's State Emergency Service and builds its vehicles on chassis from European brands Scania, MAN and Iveco.

The flagship of the lineup is the SARM-V, a heavy-duty rescue vehicle designed for operations in hard-to-reach terrain such as swamps, flooded areas or snow-covered regions. It is built on an all-wheel-drive Scania 6×6 chassis with a diesel engine producing between 380 and 500 horsepower. The custom-built body carries equipment for extracting victims from damaged vehicles, providing pre-medical care and stabilizing collapsed structures, along with radiation and chemical detection instruments, public warning systems and lighting equipment for night operations.

The second key model is the PM-V, a heavy-duty EOD vehicle built on a three-axle MAN 6×6 chassis, fitted with a 12.9-liter diesel engine producing 480 horsepower and a manual transmission. The vehicle is designed to transport large-caliber unexploded ordnance weighing more than 250 kilograms and is equipped with a hydraulic manipulator arm for safe loading and unloading. The crew's arsenal includes pneumatic and hydraulic tools for lifting heavy reinforced concrete structures, as well as an extended radio communication system covering both VHF and HF bands.

For operations requiring more compact equipment, Validus has developed the PM-M, a mid-sized EOD vehicle built on an Iveco Eurocargo 4×4 chassis, powered by a 270-horsepower diesel engine paired with a six-speed manual transmission. The vehicle's standout feature is a built-in, remotely operated tracked robot that conducts visual reconnaissance and detects and manipulates explosives in hazardous zones, sparing firefighters from having to approach the threat directly. The robot can operate in radioactive or chemically contaminated environments as well as in confined spaces, while the Iveco chassis itself is fitted with mounting and transport systems for both the robotic platform and neutralized ordnance.

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Source: pozary.cz