RKhM is a Russian chemical reconnaissance vehicle designation used across several Soviet and Russian CBRN reconnaissance platforms rather than one single chassis. The family includes the MT-LB-based RKhM Kashalot, BTR-80-based RKhM-4 and RKhM-6 branches, the BMD-3-based RKhM-5 airborne vehicle, and the Tigr-M-based RKhM-8. This relationship-only hub separates the broad designation from specific vehicles that need their own direct conflict-use sourcing.
RKhM is a mission-designation prefix for CBRN reconnaissance vehicles. The suffix or nickname matters because the same broad designation appears on different tracked, wheeled, and airborne chassis.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
 | MT-LB-based Soviet chemical reconnaissance vehicle | Army Guide and Russian reference material identify the cataloged Kashalot branch as an MT-LB-based RKhM vehicle. Sources: Army Guide RKhM Kashalot, Vooryuzheniye RKhM Kashalot |
| RKhM-4 | BTR-80-based Soviet/Russian chemical reconnaissance vehicle | Russian reference material describes RKhM-4 as a BTR-80-based chemical reconnaissance vehicle produced by Zavod Tula, with RKhM-4-01 as a modernized equipment branch. Sources: Vooryuzheniye RKhM-4, Army Guide RKhM-4-01 |
| RKhM-5 | BMD-3-based airborne CBRN reconnaissance vehicle | Russian reference material identifies RKhM-5 as an airborne forces vehicle based on the BMD-3 and accepted into Russian VDV service in 2012. Sources: Vooryuzheniye RKhM-5 |
| RKhM-6 | BTR-80-based Russian CBRN reconnaissance vehicle | Vooryuzheniye and ODIN describe RKhM-6 as a BTR-80-based Russian 8x8 CBRN reconnaissance vehicle; Russian reference material gives 2006 acceptance into service. Sources: Vooryuzheniye RKhM-6, ODIN RKhM-6 |
| RKhM-8 | Tigr-M-based Russian CBRN reconnaissance vehicle | Janes and Russian reference material describe RKhM-8 as a Tigr-M-based CBRN reconnaissance vehicle designed by Zavod Tula and intended to pass reconnaissance data through automated command-and-control and radio channels. Sources: Janes RKhM-8, Vooryuzheniye RKhM-8 |
| RKhM-9 | Typhoon-K-based Russian CBRN reconnaissance vehicle | VPK.name reported that RKhM-9 was shown at Army-2021 on a Typhoon-K base with a newer reconnaissance instrument suite and an aerial radiation reconnaissance drone component. Sources: VPK RKhM-8 RKhM-9 Army 2021 |
The unnumbered RKhM designation can refer to the MT-LB-based Kashalot branch in catalog and loss-record contexts.
| Compatible item | Item type | Compatibility evidence |
|---|---|---|
| MT-LB-based CBRN reconnaissance vehicle | Army Guide and Russian reference material identify RKhM Kashalot as a chemical reconnaissance vehicle, while the separate Kashalot record carries the conflict-use sourcing. Sources: Army Guide RKhM Kashalot, Vooryuzheniye RKhM Kashalot |
Several numbered RKhM branches are best distinguished by the vehicle chassis underneath the CBRN reconnaissance mission equipment.
| Compatible item | Item type | Compatibility evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | 8x8 armored personnel carrier chassis | RKhM-4, RKhM-4-01, and RKhM-6 sources identify BTR-80-derived chassis for those numbered branches. Sources: Vooryuzheniye RKhM-4, Army Guide RKhM-4-01, Vooryuzheniye RKhM-6 |
 | 4x4 armored vehicle chassis | Janes describes RKhM-8 as based on the AMN-233114 Tigr-M armored utility vehicle. Sources: Janes RKhM-8 |
 | Typhoon-K armored vehicle chassis | VPK.name describes the RKhM-9 branch as based on Typhoon-K. Sources: VPK RKhM-8 RKhM-9 Army 2021 |
RKhM is best read as a family prefix for chemical and CBRN reconnaissance vehicles. The exact branch identifies the chassis and equipment set: Kashalot belongs to the MT-LB line, RKhM-4 and RKhM-6 to BTR-80-derived 8x8 vehicles, RKhM-5 to the airborne BMD-3 chassis, RKhM-8 to the Tigr-M armored vehicle, and RKhM-9 to the Typhoon-K line.
The public linked branch is RKhM Kashalot, which carries the direct Ukrainian-service and loss-record sourcing for that exact vehicle.
RKhM-4, RKhM-5, RKhM-6, RKhM-8, and RKhM-9 are separate vehicle branches with distinct chassis and service-source trails, so they should not be merged into one conflict-use row.
Oryx lists RKhM-4 and RKhM-6 losses for Russian forces in the full-scale Russia-Ukraine War, but those are exact-branch observations and do not by themselves make this broad hub a normal conflict-use page.
Russian reference material says the RKhM-6 branch was accepted into Russian Ministry of Defence supply in 2006.
Sources: Vooryuzheniye RKhM-6
Russian reference material lists the BMD-3-based RKhM-5 as accepted into Russian VDV service in 2012.
Sources: Vooryuzheniye RKhM-5
Janes reported Russian Ministry of Defence plans to receive RKhM-8 CBRN reconnaissance vehicles and identified the Tigr-M chassis and Tula Plant design role.
Sources: Janes RKhM-8
VPK.name reported that RKhM-8 and RKhM-9 were demonstrated at Army-2021, with RKhM-8 based on Tigr and RKhM-9 based on Typhoon-K.
Sources: VPK RKhM-8 RKhM-9 Army 2021
