Russia testing Bumerang armored personnel carrier

MOSCOW, Feb. 9 (UPI) -- The Bumerang, a new Russian armored personnel carrier first unveiled at last year's Victory Day Parade, is undergoing preliminary trials.

The 8x8 APC is made by Russia's Military-Industrial Company. It is an amphibious vehicle, carries a total of 11 soldiers including crew, and has a top speed of about 59 miles per hour. It has a front-engine design with ceramic armor technology and can be fitted with a 30 mm anti-materiel or armor-piercing cannon, a 7.62 mm or 12.7 mm machine gun.

The Bumerang, in addition to carrying troops, can serve as an anti-tank missile carrier, an air defense missile launcher, an armored ambulance, a command post vehicle, a fire-support vehicle and a mortar carrier.

State-owned Russian news agency Sputnik International reports the Bumerang is to replace the Russian Army's the BTR-82/A armored personnel carrier.

Alexander Krasovitsky, head of the Military-Industrial Company, was quoted by Sputnik International as saying foreign interest in the APC is high and that the company is awaiting government clearance before selling it abroad.