Ukrainian Armor Varta-3

History

The Ukrainian Armor Varta-3 is a Ukrainian 4×4 mine-protected armoured vehicle developed for personnel transport, combat and special missions, patrol duties, and operations in areas with a high mine threat.

Ukrainian Armor publicly presented the Varta-3 at the MSPO 2026 exhibition in Poland in September 2026. The displayed vehicle carried the remotely controlled Tavria weapon station. The manufacturer described the Varta-3 as an updated and improved development of the earlier Varta-2.

The Varta-3 combines ballistic and mine protection with accommodation for two crew members and eight passengers. It can also carry a rotating machine-gun mount or a remotely controlled weapon station depending on the mission.

Development and presentation

The Varta-3 was unveiled at MSPO 2026 alongside the lighter Saigak-1 armoured vehicle. Ukrainian Armor General Director Vladyslav Belbas stated that the Varta-3 was developed on a German Mercedes-Benz Unimog chassis. He said this choice was intended to reduce vehicle cost while improving driving characteristics and off-road capability. The presentation and basic vehicle details were reported by UNITED24 Media and Ukrainska Pravda.

The Varta-3 is described as a mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicle and as a protected personnel carrier. Ukrainian Armor stated that it is intended for rapid and protected movement of personnel during combat operations, special missions, training, and patrols.

Design

Chassis and mobility

The Varta-3 uses a 4×4 all-wheel-drive chassis and an automatic transmission. One report based on Ukrainian Armor information identifies the chassis as a Mercedes-Benz Unimog. Power is provided by a 326 hp diesel engine producing 1,400 N·m of torque.

The maximum road speed is stated as 100 km/h. The claimed highway range is 500 km, and the fuel tank has a capacity of 200 litres. The vehicle can climb slopes of up to 41 degrees and operate on a side slope of up to 20 degrees.

Published information identifies 14,800 kg as the vehicle's maximum gross weight. Militarnyi also reported a 12.6 metric ton vehicle weight, while other reports consistently describe 14.8 metric tons as gross weight.

Protection

The armoured hull is stated to provide PZSA 6 ballistic protection. Ukrainian Armor representatives described this as protection against 7.62×54 mm armour-piercing ammunition, and Ukrainska Pravda reported that it is broadly comparable to STANAG 4569 Level 3 ballistic protection.

Mine protection is stated as STANAG 4569 Level 3a/3b. The vehicle is claimed to withstand an explosion equivalent to 8 kg of TNT beneath a wheel or beneath the hull. A V-shaped lower hull is intended to reduce the effect of the blast wave, while special mine-resistant seats provide additional protection for occupants.

The wheels use a RunFlat system intended to allow continued movement after tyre damage. Safety equipment also includes an automatic fire suppression system protecting the passenger compartment and engine.

Crew and equipment

The Varta-3 accommodates two crew members and eight passengers. Equipment reported for the vehicle includes communications and navigation systems, video surveillance, air conditioning, heating, air filtration and ventilation.

Tavria remotely controlled weapon station

The Varta-3 displayed at MSPO 2026 was fitted with the Tavria remotely controlled weapon station. Its primary weapon is a 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine gun, supplemented by a 7.62 mm PKT machine gun. The module uses a digital fire-control system and gyroscopic stabilization.

The stated effective firing range is up to 1,800 m. The mount can rotate through 360 degrees, with elevation up to 60 degrees and depression down to -10 degrees.

Target detection and tracking are provided by the Hawkeye-M2T optoelectronic system. According to manufacturer figures reported by Militarnyi, the system can detect a person at up to 3.2 km and recognize a person at up to 1 km. For a 2.3 × 2.3 m target, the stated detection range is up to 9.5 km and recognition range up to 3.2 km.

The manufacturer states that Tavria can engage ground and air targets, including armoured vehicles, other vehicles, personnel, helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles. The system is also claimed to accept external target designation from radars and command posts, automatically acquire and track targets, and calculate lead for moving targets through its ballistic computer. The operator can control the weapons from the protected vehicle compartment or from a remote position.

Program status

The Varta-3 was physically displayed at MSPO in Poland on 8 September 2026. Available sources describe its public presentation and technical configuration but do not establish series production or operational service for the Varta-3 itself.

The model is derived from the earlier Varta-2. Militarnyi reported that Ukrainian Armor had delivered Varta-2 vehicles to the National Guard of Ukraine in August 2026, but this does not establish Varta-3 operational service.

Variants

• Varta-3 with machine-gun mount: Ukrainian Armor states that the vehicle can be equipped with a rotating machine-gun platform for combat missions.
• Varta-3 with remotely controlled weapon station: The configuration displayed at MSPO 2026 used the Tavria remotely controlled weapon station with 12.7 mm and 7.62 mm machine guns.

Specifications (Varta-3)

General characteristics

• Configuration: 4×4 all-wheel drive
• Chassis: Mercedes-Benz Unimog, as reported from Ukrainian Armor statements
• Crew: 2
• Passengers: 8
• Gross weight: up to 14,800 kg
• Engine: diesel
• Power: 326 hp
• Torque: 1,400 N·m
• Transmission: automatic
• Fuel capacity: 200 litres
• Ballistic protection: PZSA 6, stated protection against 7.62×54 mm armour-piercing ammunition
• Mine protection: STANAG 4569 Level 3a/3b, claimed resistance to an 8 kg TNT-equivalent blast under a wheel or hull

Performance

• Maximum speed: up to 100 km/h
• Highway range: up to 500 km
• Maximum climb: up to 41 degrees
• Maximum side slope: up to 20 degrees

Armament of MSPO 2026 configuration

• Weapon station: Tavria remotely controlled weapon station
• Primary weapon: 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine gun
• Secondary weapon: 7.62 mm PKT machine gun
• Effective firing range: up to 1,800 m
• Traverse: 360 degrees
• Elevation: up to 60 degrees
• Depression: down to -10 degrees
• Sighting system: Hawkeye-M2T optoelectronic system
• Fire control: digital fire-control system with gyroscopic stabilization and ballistic computer

Related equipment

• Varta-2: Previous Ukrainian Armor armoured vehicle from which the Varta-3 was developed.