{"id":58883,"date":"2018-06-01T20:09:55","date_gmt":"2018-06-01T20:09:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/06\/01\/russian-operators-spotted-training-in-new-arctic-fighting-vehicles\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T09:52:29","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T09:52:29","slug":"russian-operators-spotted-training-in-new-arctic-fighting-vehicles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/off-duty\/gearscout\/2018\/06\/01\/russian-operators-spotted-training-in-new-arctic-fighting-vehicles\/","title":{"rendered":"These Mad Max vehicles could wind up on the front line of a Russian Arctic war"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Russian troops<\/a> are gearing up for a fight in the Arctic, and exploring ways to keep troops mobile in the frozen terrain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the Arctic region<\/a> continues to thaw, swaths of valuable minerals, hydrocarbons and shipping lanes are triggering intense competition among regional powers. If a military is to compete in these frigid battlescapes, their mechanized troops need to stay mobile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Russian Federation<\/a> seems to understand the doctrinal limitations of conflict in the cold north, and is developing the gear to deal with such a scenario. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a Russian-language video, Russian troops were spotted driving a variant of the Chaborz M-3 combat vehicle, made in Russia\u2019s semi-autonomous Chechen Republic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The video, posted to YouTube, appears to be sourced to Ramzan Kadyrov \u2014 the head of the Chechen Republic \u2014 based on a watermark placed on the footage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The multi-purpose vehicle depicted in the video has caterpillar tracks on the rear axle and skis in place of front wheels. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the video\u2019s description, it was tested near the Murmansk Oblast in Russia\u2019s far north this March. Russian special units appeared to use the vehicle in a series of training exercises in the region over the spring. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Chaborz M-3 is a variation of other Chaborz vehicles designed by the Russian University of Spetsnaz, located in Grozny, Chechnya. The university is understood to be more of a private military complex and workshop that develops modern special operations tactics, techniques and procedures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The National Guard of Russia, an internal Russian military force that reports directly to Russian President Vladimir Putin, also takes part in training at the complex regularly, according to social media posts by Kadyrov. <\/p>\n\n\n\t