Armored Vehicles

Kevlar-E

Also known as
  • Kevlar E
  • Kevlar-E IFV
  • Kevlar-E BMP
  • UkrInnMash Kevlar-E
  • Кевлар-Е

Kevlar-E is a Ukrainian tracked infantry fighting vehicle prototype by UkrInnMash, built around a 2S1 Gvozdika/MT-LBu-family chassis with a raised troop compartment and BM-3M Shturm combat module. The vehicle was publicly shown as a BMP-1 replacement concept before the full-scale Russian invasion, then handed over to Ukrainian forces in Kharkiv in February 2022.

Kevlar-E, Tracked infantry fighting vehicle prototype, Armored Vehicles
Image source: Wikimedia Commons Kevlar-E IFV Kyiv 2021 04

Role in Conflicts

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Ukraine
Built by
UkrInnMash
Type
Tracked infantry fighting vehicle prototype
Service note
Ukrainian prototype displayed in 2020-2021 and handed to Ukrainian forces during the 2022 full-scale invasion
Designer
UkrInnMash
Designed
Project shown from 2017-2018; prototype photographed in 2020
Produced
Prototype completed by 2020; no serial production confirmed
Number built
Prototype or experimental sample publicly documented

Specifications

Crew
3: commander, gunner/operator, and driver
Dismounts
6 troops
Combat weight
Up to 15.5 t in Defense Express presentation data; Army Recognition also reports 16,700 kg for a later specification set
Dimensions
7.3 m length, 3.0 m width, 2.7 m hull height
Armament
BM-3M Shturm combat module; reported fit includes 30 mm automatic cannon, 7.62 mm machine gun, 30 mm grenade launcher, smoke launchers, and Barrier ATGM provision
Protection
Developer-claimed STANAG 4569 Level 2 ballistic and mine protection; front arc against 12.7 mm fire and side/rear protection against 7.62 mm small-arms fire
Mobility
Tracked amphibious vehicle; Defense Express lists 60 km/h road speed and 4-6 km/h water speed, while Army Recognition reports 70 km/h road speed and 600 km cruising range
Chassis
Modified 2S1 Gvozdika / MT-LBu-family tracked chassis with raised troop compartment
Prototype Configuration

Kevlar-E adapts an existing tracked artillery-vehicle lineage into an infantry fighting vehicle rather than starting with a clean-sheet hull. Public reporting describes a raised rear troop compartment, a rear ramp, and a Ukrainian BM-3M Shturm combat module in place of the original 2S1 artillery turret.

Chassis basis

2S1 Gvozdika / MT-LBu-family tracked chassis with seven road wheels per side.

Sources: Defense Express Kevlar-E prototype photo report; Army Recognition Kevlar-E Kharkiv combat report.

Combat module

BM-3M Shturm turret family with a 30 mm automatic cannon, machine gun, grenade launcher, smoke launchers, and ATGM provision in reported configurations.

Sources: Defense Express Kevlar-E light amphibious IFV details; Army Recognition Kevlar-E Kharkiv combat report.

Production status

Sources support a prototype or experimental sample; no serial-production run is confirmed in the public record used here.

Sources: Defense Express Kevlar-E handed to Ukrainian Armed Forces; TWZ Kevlar-E joined fight.

Chassis Lineage

Kevlar-E was presented as a way to turn existing Soviet tracked-vehicle lineage into a protected infantry carrier rather than a new clean-sheet platform.

Compatible itemItem typeCompatibility evidence
2S1 Gvozdika, 122 mm tracked self-propelled howitzer, Artillery2S1 GvozdikaDonor self-propelled howitzer chassis

Defense Express and Army Recognition describe Kevlar-E as using a 2S1 Gvozdika chassis with the artillery turret removed and a troop compartment added.

Sources: Defense Express Kevlar-E prototype photo report, Army Recognition Kevlar-E prototype unveiled

MT-LBu, Amphibious tracked armored carrier and specialist chassis, Armored VehiclesMT-LBuTracked chassis family

Defense Express and TWZ describe the Kevlar-E chassis choice in MT-LB/MT-LBu-family terms, emphasizing reuse of an available tracked platform for cost and domestic-production reasons.

Sources: Defense Express Kevlar-E BMP-1 replacement report, TWZ Kevlar-E joined fight

Turret Missile Fit

Public descriptions identify the BM-3M Shturm combat module as the prototype's fighting-vehicle turret family.

Carried itemItem typeCarriage evidence
BAR'ER vehicle-carried antitank missile system, Vehicle-carried anti-tank guided missile system, Infantry WeaponsBAR'ER vehicle-carried antitank missile systemTurret-mounted anti-tank missile provision

Defense Express and Army Recognition describe the Shturm module fit with Barrier ATGM provision alongside the 30 mm cannon, machine gun, and grenade launcher.

Sources: Defense Express Kevlar-E light amphibious IFV details, Army Recognition Kevlar-E Kharkiv combat report

Timeline

Kevlar-E Key Events

  1. Concept shown at Arms and Security

    Defense Express reported that UkrInnMash displayed early Kevlar-E imagery at the Arms and Security 2017 exhibition.

    Sources: Defense Express Kevlar-E prototype photo report

  2. Prototype photo published

    Defense Express and Army Recognition reported the appearance of a Kevlar-E prototype, describing it as a private UkrInnMash infantry fighting vehicle on a 2S1 Gvozdika chassis.

    Sources: Defense Express Kevlar-E prototype photo report, Army Recognition Kevlar-E prototype unveiled

  3. Detailed specifications released

    Defense Express published developer-provided details for the amphibious prototype, including crew, dismount capacity, protection level, dimensions, and mobility data.

    Sources: Defense Express Kevlar-E light amphibious IFV details

  4. Prototype handed to Ukrainian forces

    Defense Express reported that the Kharkiv Transport Equipment Plant handed the experimental Kevlar-E fighting vehicle over for Ukrainian Army needs during the full-scale invasion.

    Sources: Defense Express Kevlar-E handed to Ukrainian Armed Forces

  5. Later Kharkiv-area service reported

    Forbes described the one-off Kevlar-E as still in action around Kharkiv roughly a year after UkrInnMash handed the prototype to the army.

    Sources: Forbes Kevlar-E around Kharkiv

Media

Kevlar-E Videos

Kevlar-E Images

Kevlar-E, Tracked infantry fighting vehicle prototype, Armored Vehicles - view 1
Source: Wikimedia Commons Kevlar-E IFV Kyiv 2021 01
Kevlar-E, Tracked infantry fighting vehicle prototype, Armored Vehicles - view 2
Source: Wikimedia Commons Kevlar-E IFV Kyiv 2021 05
Related Weapon Systems
MT-LBu, Amphibious tracked armored carrier and specialist chassis, Armored VehiclesArmored VehiclesMT-LBuAmphibious tracked armored carrier and specialist chassisThe MT-LBu is a Soviet amphibious tracked armored carrier and specialist chassis derived from the MT-LB family. Its higher hull, longer seven-road-wheel chassis, and 300 hp YaMZ diesel engine gave armies more internal volume and payload margin for command posts, artillery fire-control vehicles, radar carriers, electronic-warfare systems, and later battlefield conversions in conflicts such as the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War.
BMP-1AM Basurmanin, Modernized infantry fighting vehicle, Armored VehiclesArmored VehiclesBMP-1AM BasurmaninModernized infantry fighting vehicleThe BMP-1AM Basurmanin is a Russian modernization of the BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicle that replaces the original 73 mm Grom turret with a BTR-82A-derived fighting compartment carrying a 30 mm 2A72 cannon, PKTM machine gun, updated sights, and Metis anti-tank missile capability. Russian industry sources describe repaired and upgraded vehicles delivered under state defense orders, while Ukrainian and open-source loss reporting place BMP-1AM vehicles in Russian service during the full-scale phase of the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War.
BRM-1K, Tracked armored reconnaissance vehicle, Armored VehiclesArmored VehiclesBRM-1KTracked armored reconnaissance vehicleThe BRM-1K is a Soviet tracked armored reconnaissance vehicle derived from the BMP-1 chassis, combining amphibious mobility with battlefield surveillance equipment and a 73 mm 2A28 cannon. Russia later modernized the type as the BRM-1KM/BRM-1K Model 2021 with a BTR-82A-style combat compartment, 30 mm 2A72 armament, updated communications, and newer reconnaissance equipment; both legacy and modernized vehicles are visually documented in post-Soviet conflicts.
9K114 Shturm, Radio-command anti-tank guided missile system, Infantry WeaponsInfantry Weapons9K114 ShturmRadio-command anti-tank guided missile systemThe 9K114 Shturm is a Soviet radio-command anti-tank guided missile system built around the 9M114 Kokon missile and known to NATO as AT-6 Spiral. Designed by KBM Kolomna for attack helicopters and the MT-LB-based 9P149 Shturm-S carrier, it combines SACLOS guidance, a fast missile, and a 5 km baseline range, with later missile variants reaching 6-7 km. In the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War, Russian 9P149 vehicles have been lost or captured, while Ukrainian units have shown Shturm-S training and Shturm-SM modernization work using domestic sights and RK-2P missiles.

Sources

Defense Express Kevlar-E light amphibious IFV detailsPublisher: Defense Express | Note: Supports Kevlar-E specifications, UkrInnMash development context, amphibious role, BM-3M Shturm combat-module fit, protection level, dimensions, crew, troop capacity, mobility data, and prototype-status caveats. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Defense Express Kevlar-E prototype photo reportPublisher: Defense Express | Note: Supports Kevlar-E as a private UkrInnMash prototype based on the 2S1 Gvozdika chassis, with the 122 mm artillery turret replaced by a troop-compartment superstructure and BM-3M Shturm module. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Defense Express Kevlar-E BMP-1 replacement reportPublisher: Defense Express | Note: Supports UkrInnMash marketing context, BMP-1 replacement framing, MT-LB/MT-LBu-family chassis rationale, Shturm turret armament, crew and dismount capacity, and protection claims. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Defense Express Kevlar-E handed to Ukrainian Armed ForcesPublisher: Defense Express | Note: Supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War direct conflict use: reports that the Kevlar-E prototype was transferred to the Ukrainian Army on February 28, 2022, for use defending Ukraine; also supports BM-3M module, UkrInnMash design context, protection, and mission details. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Army Recognition Kevlar-E Kharkiv combat reportPublisher: Army Recognition | Note: Supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War direct conflict use by reporting Ukrainian deployment of the Kevlar-E prototype in Kharkiv; also supports chassis, armament, crew, troop capacity, protection, weight, road speed, amphibious speed, and range. | Accessed: 2026-07-13TWZ Kevlar-E joined fightPublisher: The War Zone | Note: Supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War direct conflict use by describing the Kevlar-E prototype in Kharkiv with a Ukrainian flag during Russia's attack; also supports prototype-status limits, UkrInnMash background, chassis lineage, and broad performance data. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Forbes Kevlar-E around KharkivPublisher: Forbes | Note: Supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War direct conflict use by describing the one-off Kevlar-E as handed from UkrInnMash to the Ukrainian Army and later still operating around Kharkiv. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Army Recognition Kevlar-E prototype unveiledPublisher: Army Recognition | Note: Supports UkrInnMash prototype-unveiling context, 2S1 Gvozdika chassis basis, Shturm remote weapon station, 30 mm gun, antitank missile launcher provision, crew, and troop-compartment redesign. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Dansk Industri Ukrainian Defence CouncilPublisher: Confederation of Danish Industry | Note: Supports UkrInnMash Corporation as a Ukrainian defense-sector company producing specialized equipment and components, including its tracked armored vehicle Kevlar. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Wikimedia Commons Kevlar-E IFV Kyiv 2021 04Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for the selected primary image: a VoidWanderer photo of Kevlar-E at Zbroya ta Bezpeka 2021, listed on Commons as CC BY-SA 4.0. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Wikimedia Commons Kevlar-E IFV Kyiv 2021 01Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports gallery image provenance for a VoidWanderer photo of Kevlar-E at Zbroya ta Bezpeka 2021, listed on Commons as CC BY-SA 4.0. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Wikimedia Commons Kevlar-E IFV Kyiv 2021 05Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports gallery image provenance for a VoidWanderer photo of Kevlar-E at Zbroya ta Bezpeka 2021, listed on Commons as CC BY-SA 4.0. | Accessed: 2026-07-13