MZKT (''МЗКТ'' or ''МЗКЦ'', , , Minsk Wheel(ed) Tractor Plant (MWTP)) is a manufacturer of heavy

off-road vehicle An off-road vehicle (ORV), also known as an off-highway vehicle (OHV), overland vehicle or adventure vehicle, is a type of transportation specifically engineered to navigate unpaved roads and surfaces. These include trails, forest roads, and ...

s, especially military trucks, based in

Minsk Minsk (, ; , ) is the capital and largest city of Belarus, located on the Svislach (Berezina), Svislach and the now subterranean Nyamiha, Niamiha rivers. As the capital, Minsk has a special administrative status in Belarus and is the administra ...

, in

Belarus Belarus, officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Russia to the east and northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Belarus spans an a ...

; it was formerly a division of MAZ. MZKT civilian trucks are branded VOLAT (, literally means Giant). MZKT specializes in the production of on-road and off-road heavy-duty vehicles and trailers for them, as well as special wheeled chassis for installation of various equipment for enterprises and transport organizations of the construction, oil and gas and engineering industries.

History

In 1954, MZKT, the Minsk Wheeled Tractor Plant, was founded to develop

artillery tractor An artillery tractor, also referred to as a gun tractor, is a specialized heavy-duty form of tractor unit used to tow artillery pieces of varying weights and calibres. It may be wheeled, tracked, or half-tracked. Traction There are two m ...

s; it then developed a series of heavy weapons transporters for the military of the

USSR The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...

, including heavy offroad trucks such as the

MAZ-537 The MAZ-537 is a 12-cylinder diesel engine-powered military truck artillery tractor, originally designed for loads up to 50 tons (using semitrailers such as the ChMZAP-9990 or ChMZAP-5247G, for example) with later versions providing a maximum loa ...

and

MAZ-7310 The MAZ-543/MAZ-7310 "Uragan" (/Hurricane) is a Soviet/Belarusian 8×8 artillery truck designed and developed by MAZ (Minsk Automobile Plant), in what is now Belarus. MAZ-543 Designed in the 1960s, the MAZ-543 was presented on 7 November 196 ...

. It was a division of

Minsk Automobile Plant Minsk Automobile Plant (MAZ) (, ''Open JSC Minski Autamabilny Zavod'', ''Minskij Avtomobilnyj Zavod'') is a state-run automotive manufacturer association in Belarus, one of the largest in Eastern Europe. History After a decision by the Sovie ...

(known as MAZ). In 1991, MZKT was spun off into a separate company; its former parent, MAZ, continues to make a broader range of heavy vehicles. In 1992, military orders slowed, and MZKT attempted to adapt its products to civilian uses, such as mining trucks and crane carriers. In 2020 it was said that the MZKT was the primary supplier for the chassis of such Russian army vehicles as the launcher for the

Topol-M The RT-2PM2 «Topol-M» (, NATO reporting name: SS-27 "Sickle B", other designations: SS-27 Mod 1, RS-12M1, RS-12M2, formerly incorrectly RT-2UTTKh) is one of the most recent intercontinental ballistic missiles to be deployed by Russia, and the f ...

because the domestic Russian products are of comparatively low quality.

Products

Many post-independence MZKT trucks continued to use a MAZ cab which resembled the cab; starting in 2010 these were replaced with Belkarplastik cabs which resembled the 5th generation Isuzu Forward, which are also used by

Yarovit Yarovit, Iarovit (or Yerovit, Ierovit) is a Polabian god of war, worshipped in Vologošč ( Circipanians) and Hobolin ( Hobolians; modern Havelberg). Sources give only a brief description of his cult, his main temple was located in Vologošč, ...

trucks. The civilian brand of the group Volat manufacturers tractor trucks,

ballast tractor A ballast tractor is a specially weighted tractor unit of a heavy hauler combination. It is designed to utilize a drawbar to pull or push heavy or exceptionally large trailer loads which are loaded in a hydraulic modular trailer. When feasi ...

s and

trailers Trailer may refer to: Transportation * Trailer (vehicle), an unpowered vehicle pulled by a powered vehicle ** Baggage trailer, a large flatbed baggage trolley ** Bicycle trailer, a wheeled frame for hitching to a bicycle to tow cargo or passen ...

for transportation and commercial use.

Military vehicles

MZKT-6922

MZKT-6922, used with

Tor Tor, TOR or ToR may refer to: Places * Toronto, Canada ** Toronto Raptors * Tor, Pallars, a village in Spain * Tor, former name of Sloviansk, Ukraine, a city * Mount Tor, Tasmania, Australia, an extinct volcano * Tor Bay, Devon, England * Tor ...

and other

surface-to-air A surface-to-air missile (SAM), also known as a ground-to-air missile (GTAM) or surface-to-air guided weapon (SAGW), is a missile designed to be launched from the ground or the sea to destroy aircraft or other missiles. It is one type of anti-a ...

missile systems.

MZKT-79221

MZKT-79221 The MZKT-79221 () is a Russian army 16x16 transporter-erector-launcher (TEL) designed and developed by the MZKT in Belarus. It was developed in 1996-1997, and serial production began in 2000. Developed primarily for use as a RT-2PM2 Topol-M TEL, ...

transporter erector launcher A transporter erector launcher (TEL) is a missile vehicle with an integrated tractor unit that can transport, elevate to a firing position and launch one or more rockets or missiles. History Such vehicles exist for both surface-to-air missiles ...

for the

missile; a successor to the

MAZ-7917 The MAZ-7917 () is a Soviet and Russian army 14×12 Twelve-wheel drive transporter-erector-launcher designed and developed by the Minsk Automobile Plant (MAZ) in Belarus. Developed primarily for use as a Topol ICBM mobile launcher, the earli ...

, which was, in turn, a successor to the MAZ-547 File:19-03-2012-Parade-rehearsal - Topol-M.jpg,

Image:Dmitry Medvedev 15 May 2008-14.jpg,

Dmitry Medvedev Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev (born 14 September 1965) is a Russian politician and lawyer who has served as Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of Russia since 2020. Medvedev was also President of Russia between 2008 and 2012 and Prime Mini ...

standing with MZKT-79221 Topol-M

MZKT-7930

Moscow_Victory_Parade_2010_-_Training_on_May_4_-_img14

The MZKT-7930 "Astrolog" is carrying the Iskander

ballistic missiles A ballistic missile is a type of missile that uses projectile motion to deliver warheads on a target. These weapons are powered only during relatively brief periods—most of the flight is unpowered. Short-range ballistic missiles (SRBM) typica ...

, and the

Pantsir-S1 The Pantsir () missile system is a family of self-propelled, medium-range surface-to-air missile and anti-aircraft artillery systems. Three types of vehicles make up one system: a missile launcher, a radar truck and a command post. Starting with ...

air defense system, and radars for the S-300 missile system. Also Uragan-1M

MLRS A multiple rocket launcher (MRL) or multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) is a type of rocket artillery system that contains multiple launchers which are fixed to a single platform, and shoots its rocket ordnance in a fashion similar to a vol ...

MZKT-74135/74295

MZKT-74135 8x8 tank transporter Image:Belarus-Volot Transporting T-72-1.jpg, MZKT-74135 transporting a

T-72 The T-72 is a family of Soviet Union, Soviet main battle tanks that entered production in 1973. The T-72 was a development based on the T-64 using thought and design of the previous Object 167M. About 25,000 T-72 tanks have been built, and refu ...

Image:Belarus-Volot Transporting BMP-2-1.jpg, MZKT-74295 transporting a

BMP-2 The BMP-2 (''Boyevaya Mashina Pekhoty'', , literally "combat machine/vehicle f theinfantry") is an amphibious infantry fighting vehicle introduced in the 1980s in the Soviet Union, following on from the BMP-1 of the 1960s. Development his ...

MZKT-490100

MZKT-490100 armored vehicle used with four ready-to-launch Shershen ATGMs or with the Groza-S jamming system. File:Парад по случаю Дня независимости Белоруссии при участии авиации ЗВО (13).jpg, MZKT-490100 File:MZKT-490101-010 "Volat" during the "Armiya 2020" exhibition.jpg, MZKT-490101-010 during the "Armiya 2020" exhibition

WS2400

Some trucks made by

Wanshan Special Vehicle Wanshan Special Vehicle, officially Hubei Sanjiang Space Wanshan Special Vehicle Co., Ltd (Ch:湖北三江航天万山特种车辆有限公司), is a truck and bus manufacturer in China. Its WS-series military trucks are used by the People’s Libe ...

, in

China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...

, are based on MZKT designs; the WS2400 is based on the

MAZ-543 __NOTOC__ Year Events By place Europe * Spring – Siege of Naples (542–543): The Byzantine garrison (1,000 men) in Naples surrenders to the Ostrogoths, pressed by famine and demoralized by the failure of two relief efforts. Th ...

Volat V2

Volat V2 APC (MZKT-690003) with

2A42 The Shipunov 2A42 is a Soviet/Russian 30 mm autocannon. It is built by the Tulamashzavod Joint Stock Company and named after . Design The 30 mm 2A42 autocannon was developed as a replacement for 2A28 Grom and has a dual feed. One is ...

30mm autocannon and other weaponry was first presented at Milex-2021 exhibition.

Volat (civilian vehicles)

Trucks

*MZKT-79086, 12x12 oilfield truck *MZKT-7429, 8x8 offroad tractor *MZKT-790976, 8x8 oilfield truck *MZKT-75165 8x8 tipper *MZKT-741320,

*MZKT-741600, ballast tractor Image:MZKT truck.JPG, MZKT-65151 Image:MZKT-7004.JPG, MZKT-7004 Image:MZKT-7401.JPG, MZKT-7401 Image:MZKT-730240.jpg, MZKT-730240 (port tractor) Image:MZKT-700300.jpg, MZKT-700300 Image:MZKT-750440 (2).jpg, MZKT-750440

Trailer

* MZKT-900110 (2 axles, 29T) * MZKT-900130 (2 axles, 36T) * MZKT-937800 (2 axles, 56T) * MZKT-5247D0-010 (2 axles, 50T) * MZKT-998670 (2 axles, 70T) * MZKT-720200 (3 axles, 45T) * MZKT-999453 (3 axles, 46T) * MZKT-998910 (3 axles, 50T) * MZKT-820100 (4 axles, 63T) * MZKT-837200 (4 axles, 65T) * MZKT-999451 (5 axles, 64T) * MZKT-999450 (6 axles, 73T)

International sanctions

On 17 December 2020, MZKT was added to the sanctions list of the

European Union The European Union (EU) is a supranational union, supranational political union, political and economic union of Member state of the European Union, member states that are Geography of the European Union, located primarily in Europe. The u ...

. The United Kingdom and Switzerland have also sanctioned the company. In 2022, the plant, its director, Aliaksei Rymasheuski, and deputy director, Aliaksandr Vetsianevich, were included in the

Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List The Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List, also known as the SDN List, is a United States government sanctions/embargo measure targeting U.S.-designated terrorists, officials and beneficiaries of certain authoritarian regimes, a ...

of the United States, as well as in the sanctions lists of the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Ukraine. In addition, Japan has imposed sanctions against the MZKT. On April 19, 2024, the U.S. State Department imposed sanctions on MWTP pursuant to Executive Order 13382, which targets proliferators of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery. The State Department statement read: " WTPhas worked to supply special vehicle chassis to Pakistan’s long-range ballistic missile program. Such chassis are used as launch support equipment for ballistic missiles by Pakistan’s National Development Complex (NDC), which is responsible for the development of Missile Technology Control Regime Category (MTCR) I ballistic missiles

References

External links

MZKT product listingVolat DefenseReview
in the Russian Journal of Motor Vehicles

of vehicle manufacturers in Belarus {{DEFAULTSORT:Mzkt Truck manufacturers of the Soviet Union Defence companies of the Soviet Union Companies based in Minsk Truck manufacturers of Belarus Belarusian entities subject to U.S. Department of the Treasury sanctions